Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, a time when we show appreciation to those we love. I love Valentine’s Day! I love wearing sweaters with hearts and seeing red and pink hearts decorating stores and offices. I have so many good memories of my parents surprising my sister and me with a special gift. And somehow, even though it was a tradition, they still surprised me every year!

I understand that not everyone is a fan of Valentine’s Day. For some of us it may not be meaningful. For others it could be painful. Some may question its history or origin. I respect that. For me, I think it is a fun celebration and I have not found a biblical reason to refrain from celebrating Valentine’s Day.

The first Valentine was posted around 1806. Currently, almost one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year on or near February 14. It is second only to Christmas! That is a strong showing for the consumerist side of Valentine’s. However, we don’t want to idolize romantic love. This is a good time to appreciate the many forms of love in our lives and most importantly, the true Source of Love: God. The true essence of love comes from the very heart of God. In 1 John 4:19 reminds us that “We love because he first loved us.”

There are at least three different types of love that we find in the New Testament: eros, philos, and agape. Eros is romantic love. Philos is love between a brother, sister, or friend. Agape is divine love. It is unconditional and selfless. When we talk about love in the Christian faith, we are talking about agape love. It is a love that is patient, kind, and, most importantly, unconditional.

For Christians, the greatest love story ever told is not about cupid or roses, but about Jesus. Yes, Jesus—the Son of God, who came to earth and gave His life for you and me. The Bible reminds us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16).

Martin Luther called that Bible verse “the Gospel in sum.” God’s love for us is a love that goes beyond all human understanding. It is a love that sacrifices everything, even to the point of death. This love claims us in the waters of baptism wrapped in the great gift of forgiveness. No matter what we’ve done, no matter where we’ve been, or how unworthy we might feel. We are loved. We are forgiven. We are children of God.

What a gift it is to be loved like this! Yet, in paying it forward, it is a high calling. It is a challenging one too. 

In our excelling and failing, I think we see glimpses of it. As we are brought into the life of Christ, we are called to love like he did. In this world, what does it mean to love as Jesus did, especially when love is often equated with fleeting emotions or the tendency to focus on “me” or “mine”?

We mostly get to hear this scriptures at weddings, but in 1 Corinthians 13, we are given a beautiful picture of love—God’s love. Paul writes:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

This is the love we are called to show—whether we’re loving our families, our neighbors, our friends, or even strangers. It’s not about grand gestures or perfect feelings; it’s about small acts of kindness, forgiveness, and patience. It’s about loving when it’s difficult, and offering grace when it’s needed most.

This holiday can be a beautiful reminder to broaden our view of what love can be. As Christians, we are called to love in all kinds of relationships: the love we show to our neighbors, the way we treat our coworkers, and the kindness we extend to people we don’t even know. Every act of love—no matter how big or small—is a reflection of God’s love for us.

In fact, one of the most profound ways we can show Christ’s love is through service. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This means caring for others, helping those in need, and finding ways to reflect God’s love to the world around us. It’s in these actions that the love of Christ shines through us.