The Scriptures tell us to love one another. As we approach Valentine’s Day, it seems fitting to consider what this commandment means.  “Love” is not only a noun, but a verb, as well. More than a feeling, it requires action on our part.

What does this action look like?

• When we feel love for another person, we are concerned with that person’s well-being and happiness. We put the loved one’s feelings ahead of our own.
• We want to spend time with the loved one, learning everything we can about them.
• We want to give them things they want or need.

As Christians, we are to extend our love to include our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is put to the test in our congregations and neighborhoods, where many of us have a hard time genuinely acting in love.

Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.” He also said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength (action, again), and to love our neighbor.

Think about how we show love to one another and how our obedience translates to showing love to God:

• When we feel the emotion of love for another person, we become concerned with that person’s well-being and happiness. We put the loved one’s feelings ahead of our own. – Is pleasing God your main concern?
• We want to spend time with the loved one, learning everything we can about them.- Do you spend time in prayer and reading Scripture to learn more about God?
• We want to give them gifts. – What gifts do you offer Him? (God doesn’t need anything, but He wants our devotion.)

Homemade Valentine cards created from construction paper and lace doilies may have fallen out of fashion, but the weeks leading up to this Valentine’s Day celebration of love is a perfect time to create a heart-made gift of loving acts for our Lord…

…then the world may truly know we are Christians by our love.

[Updated from original post from January 2014]