As Valentine’s Day approaches, many of us will be celebrating the love we have for our spouses, children, friends, etc. But for singles, Valentine’s Day—the most romantic day of the year—often triggers deep feelings of sadness and loneliness. The feeling is often worsened with the all-round commercialisation of gift-giving —the dozen red roses, heart-shaped chocolates and the romantic ‘I Love You’ teddy bears.
But for Christians, this is no excuse to wallow in loneliness or discontentment.
Regardless of your relationship status, there is a deeper, truer, and fuller expression of love that can only be found in God and received through Jesus Christ. Agape love—God’s perfect, unconditional and sacrificial love is more satisfying than any Valentine’s Day gift. The word “agape” is used 106 times throughout the New Testament, according to Christian website Crosswalk.com.
So today, Valentine’s Day, reflect upon true love. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, speaks of what true love entails: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
I John 4:7-10 points to God as the author of supernatural love. An article from The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN.com) said that this truth reveals a refreshing reminder: a woman’s experience of love is not limited to the presence or absence of a human relationship despite how the media or our culture defines love. She is not worth more because she has a guy by her side since God as her Creator defines her as His beloved daughter for whom a great price has been paid in the sacrifice of Christ.
God romances a woman by pursuing her heart so she can ask Him to make Valentine’s Day meaningful for her; of course, taking the opportunity at the same time to talk to Him about her desires including romance from a man. God’s inexhaustible, overflowing and incomparable love is a love worth celebrating on Valentine’s and every day.