Devotional: Sharing Love

Sunday, February 14 is Valentine’s Day. A time to focus on expressing our love to others. Do we really need a day to remind us to do this? Hopefully, as Christians, we would take the opportunity to express our love to others through our daily words and actions.

I read about the early beginnings of Valentine’s Day and found references to a couple of our modern-day traditions. According to legend, “hearts made from parchment were sent to Roman soldiers to remind them they were loved while away in the service.” And then, “the custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates, and other gifts originated in the UK.” These are the commercial actions we are familiar with on Valentine’s Day.

However, when we think about “real love” we see biblical examples that teach the true meaning of love and some great examples for us to understand and practice.

God assures us that no matter what, “My unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” Isaiah 54:10

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Love must be sincere.” Romans 12:9-13

“And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” I John 4:7-12

As we consider Valentine’s Day, what can we do to share God’s love with others?

Written by WMU of Texas President Earl Ann Bumpus