We love because He loved us first with the greatest love of all – the unconditional love of a Heavenly father.
What does LOVE mean for us?
Our world sends countless subtle messages that we will not be complete until we find our better halves through the examples of Hollywood rom-coms and the current Swift/Kelce craze. That kind of Hollywood romantic love has been placed on a pedestal higher than any other forms of love. That kind of love has become something to long for and even in some cases, to idolize no matter our relationship status.
While it is special to celebrate our significant others, we need to go back to the root of love itself and understand where love comes from. 1 John 4:19 states, “we love because he first loved us.” It raises the question, is it then even possible to love one another well without being rooted in Christ’s love? And, how can we celebrate Valentine’s without Jesus in mind?
To celebrate the act of loving one another, we ought to celebrate the fact Jesus loves us to the point of sacrificing His one and only son to cover the sins of every person ever to exist (John 3:16). Love is an action as we’ve seen through His ultimate sacrifice. From love comes all things. Love is the unchanged substance that serves as the fundamental component of how we live our lives like Christ (1 Corinthians 13:13 / Criswell).
Of course, the act of love isn’t reserved solely for Valentine’s Day but it’s a good time to place extra consideration on the love He shares with us to share with others. Loving one another is the way of life that we are called to follow. It all begins with Him and His unconditional love.
What do we do?
Celebrate more than just romantic love on Valentine’s day! Go ahead and buy your significant other a bouquet of roses. Bring your coworkers a box of chocolates. Say hello to a passerby. Spend time with your friends. Shoot your sibling a text. Go out for a walk with your kids.
Most importantly, take some time to remember from whom your love flows. Be grateful for the love of Jesus in you and in all things because it is the sole reason why you can love others.
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31)