Love is a beautiful thing, and the Bible often speaks of it in a poetic, romantic way. Yet the reality is that love has far more to do with sacrifice than romance; it’s about giving yourself to others.
So it should be no surprise that Valentine’s Day is such an appropriate time to reflect on all the love God has shown us throughout history, even if we’re busy with our relationships and pursuits. When love is only thought of in romance, it can often lead to selfishness and pride. But when it’s thought of as God’s perfect love for us – His sacrifice for us – it can find a pure expression. For example, a husband might be willing to sacrifice his own time and energy to take his wife out for a Valentine’s Day gift – because he knows she’ll be grateful for the gesture, and even more so if he does something she doesn’t expect. That kind of love is a reflection of God’s.
That kind of selflessness is what God expects from us, especially when we choose to do so in the face of difficulty or adversity. We see this in the example of Jesus Christ, who willingly gave His life on the cross as payment for our sins. And through His life and death, we can know that He is for us – and He cares about every aspect of our lives, not just on Valentine’s Day but every day. So let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving love a chance – and giving God a chance too. It’s only through His love that we have the opportunity to love others.
In the book of Luke 10:38-42 [NLT] For Jesus said, “Whoever loves other people will be remembered by God as having loved him. And whoever keeps himself unspotted will not come to judge but will go into eternal life.” therefore, the person who looks for his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
To the Christian, love is a reflection of God. That is why love is often described as “abundant” or “free.” It never says it has an end. It never says it requires choice or work, or sacrifice. All that matters is its following; it’s giving itself for others in love. Love reflects God’s, and thus, it is without fail. It isn’t good when it isn’t returning something; it isn’t good when it leaves a person in need of a relationship or love. It is good when serve others when it does not expect an equal in return. It matters not who the object of love is, for God can love even the most unlovable if they accept His gift.
Love can also come at a great cost and pain. That is the nature of this sacrifice, for it costs us more than we are willing to give and more than we can give. Love comes with pain that poor souls will never experience, but rich ones often do. Love comes when we take a risk for another when we pass by an opportunity to avoid pain in favor of someone else. It comes when we endure suffering so that the other may go on living.
To celebrate valentines day, according to the book of mark 11:9 [NLT] Then, Jesus said, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” And everyone was amazed by this statement. Therefore, on valentines day, Christians should not only reflect on God’s love through the cross of Christ, but they should also reflect on Jesus Christ’s statement and how it can help them be better lovers.
Jesus was known as the good shepherd who loved his people. This selfless love led him to his death (Hebrews 13:13-14). Yet he did not die for those he knew would follow him; he died for those whom the world had given up on. To this day, God sends his word to hear us say, “… here I am! Send me.” and He fulfills our need. He loves us beyond all comprehension, but in the end, it is our response to His love that will bring Him glory (Romans 5:5). On this day, we should reflect on the love God has for us, and we should reflect on how we might live it. If God is reflected in our lives through love, that is truly a reflection of God. Because that would mean that He would shine through us more than He shines through their force-fed sermons.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, consider spreading the love of Christ to those around you. Even if you are unsure whether it is appropriate to tell someone how much you love them, consider gently letting them know just how important they are. Jesus said that if all other people had the same love for God, the world would not know what true love is (1 John 4:20). Love can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be hidden. Our love or lack thereof determines whether or not the world will know what good and kind men and women truly are. It is love that can change the world; our love can change the world.
Valentine’s day is a time of great joy and celebration, but it’s a time of materialism and selfishness too often. But whether we are with our loved ones or not, there will always be people all around us who need to know Christ’s love. God’s love comes from outside ourselves, from the heart and mind of God Himself.