Valentine’s Day was named in honor of Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman Christian. He ministered to persecuted Christians and was martyred on February 14 which has been observed as Valentine's Day since 496 AD. The value of Valentine’s Day is that it reminds us of the importance of love.
The Bible says much about love. It is interesting that the Apostle John wrote more about love than any other disciple. The Gospel of John and the First Epistle of John are full of information concerning God-love. Probably, the Scripture passage on love most familiar to people is in 1 Corinthians 13 written by the Apostle Paul.
Take a moment and consider biblical answers to questions on love.
What is love like? Love is visible.
The Apostle Paul gives characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13;4-7, Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Saint Augustine of Hippo (430), What does love look like? It has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.
Where is love from? Love is from God.
1 John 4:16, So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. The primary word for love in the Old Testament is steadfast love. Richard Baxter, It is but right that our hearts should be on God, when the heart of God is so much on us.
How do we know God loves us? God’s love is revealed in His actions.
1 John 4:9-10, In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 5:8, but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Billy Graham, When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, “I love you.”
Why must I love? Love is commanded by God.
Matthew 22:37-39, And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 1 John 4:8, Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Francis Schaeffer, Love of the creature toward the Creator must include obedience or it is meaningless.
Why is love so important? Love is how God intends for us to live.
Colossians 3:14, And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. John 13:35, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (d. 1945), Give me such love for God and men as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.
How can we get this God-love? God’s love is received through His Son.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 1 John 3:23, And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ. It is a response of faith in Who Jesus is and what Jesus did by placing one’s trust in Him alone.
How are we to love? We are to reflect God’s love to others.
Ephesians 5:2; And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 1 John 3:18, Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Oswald Chambers, If my heart is right with God, every human being is my neighbor.
Consider some quotes on love from a Christian perspective:
On God’s love for us
Anonymous, The true measure of God’s love is that he loves without measure. John Blanchard, God loved us when there was nothing good to be seen in us and nothing good to be said for us ... There is nothing the Christian can do to make God love him more, or love him less. God’s love for his people is infinite and unconditional.
On man’s love for God
C. S. Lewis, Christian love, either towards God or towards man, is an affair of the will. John Owen, We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at his unspeakable love.
On man’s love for others
John Stott, Love is service rather than sentiment. Oswald Chambers, If my heart is right with God, every human being is my neighbour.
Love is at the very heart of God Who gives hearts of love to those who place faith alone in His Son. Love is forever, 1 Corinthians 2:9, . . . What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. Love is a special gift of God’s grace to a hurting world.
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