Valentine’s Day is tomorrow so of course, we see hearts, flowers, candy, and cards everywhere we look. The words, “Will you be my valentine” will be spoken many times. I have been thinking about the word love and what it represents. For most of us I think it represents a feeling or emotion. But, in fact, love is also an action word. We tend to toss it around a lot, don’t we? I can think of many times I’ve used the word love to describe something such as…

I love pizza, cheesecake, sunrises and sunsets; I love the beach, reading, and flowers, I love exercise (NO – wait, that’s my sister, not me – LOL).

Anyway, you get the point. We use the word love for so many things that sometimes we don’t really think about what love is at its truest form. What is love? Where did it begin? How can we love as deeply as we sometimes do? Is love just a feeling or does it result in action?

What is love?

” Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Where did love begin?

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8

How can we love as deeply as we sometimes do?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30

Is love just a feeling or does it result in action?

“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life.” Matthew 20:18-19

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

We can love because God first loved us. He deserves our love in return. We don’t have to ask God “Will you be my valentine” because He’s always waiting on us to love and follow Him in true adoration and obedience. God offers His love to all. We just have to accept it.