Valentine's Day - Or how we should be everyday?

In Ephesians 5 in the context of "Be imitators of God" Paul instructs wives and husbands regarding how they should treat each other.  I think that we too often overlook everything in Ephesians 5 prior to the part about wives and husbands, but it adds so much significance to what he is telling us.

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

To start in this way is huge.  In fact if we were to live out these verses would we need any of the rest?  To love as Christ loved us means that we love unconditionally, with all of our heart.

In verses 3-20 Paul then gives instructions on what not to be and what we should be.  Examples include: no hint of sexual immorality, no hint of greed, no obscenity, no foolish talk or coarse joking, live wise, don't be a fool, sing and make music in your heart, give thanks to God for everything, etc...  Please read it for yourself.

Then...

Ephesians 5:21 - Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This is important, because no matter what follows...we know that we are to submit to one another out of our deep love (our reverence) for Christ.  At this point is there any reason to go on?  This is what we have got to do marriage.  In this context please read for yourselfs the remaining verses which ends with:

Ephesians 5:33 - However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself and the wife must respect her husband.

This statement is so tied to how we are wired.  Men you need to love your wives, wives you need to respect your husband.  Men if you don't love your wife and be considerate of her she will not repect you.  Women, if you don't respect your husbands he will not truely love you.  This is the point of submission...we need to offer the other what it is they need...in order to get what we need.

So should we wait for Valentine's each year to show our love for each other?  Should Valentine's day be the only day we submit to the needs of our wives and husbands?  No.  We should be be serving, loving and submitting to each other daily in our reverence of Christ and what he did so unselfishly for us all.  Valentine's day should be the day when we push that which we should do every day over the top!