Love is in the air. Valentine’s day’s reds, pinks and hearts have taken over everywhere. The overabundance of love begs the question, “What is love?”. Is love a store bought card with a glitter heart? Is love chocolate covered strawberries? Is love a dozen red roses?

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud”.

1 Corinthians 13:4, NLT

The answer to this age-old question is simple and is in the best-selling book of all-time. Despite this, it seems most people don’t get it right.

Love is not superficial. Love is not meant for one day. Many prepare a year for their wedding day, but never prepare for the marriage. The same thing holds true on Valentine’s Day. Women everywhere are told how much they are loved and appreciated on that day, but by February 15th, a lot of women feel like an afterthought. Why is it that we pretend to know love and boast on one day instead of living love?

“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

1 John 4:8, NLT

It is impossible to think of God without thinking of love. One of Jesus’s last lessons to his apostles was about love.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends…You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

John 15:9-13,16-7, NLT

Love is the most profound human expression. It permeates literature, songs, art and just about everything else. Love is kindness and charity towards others without the expectation of return. We have decided that each year when we discuss love as a family in our weekly Bible study, we will show love for one another as discussed above. We plan to volunteer at a food pantry to donate our time and give of ourselves. We plan to love each other.

Love reaches down and out, just as God came down to us to show us His love. God’s love for us is so great that He came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. God met us where we were. Love is sacrificial and God sacrificed his perfect Son for us. He sent His one and only Son to die for us. That expression sometimes gets lost on us. This is our first Valentine’s day as parents. We cannot imagine ever sending our son to death for any reason. We would sooner die in his place, but that is the thing. We are God’s children and he sent Jesus, his Son, but also Himself to die for us. God is triune, He is three persons in one being. He is the loving parent that laid down His life for His children, so that they could live. So what is love? God is love.

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