Love is all around and during the month and February and, in particular, Valentine’s week it is highlighted a lot. There are roses for sale, candy comes in all shapes and sizes, especially heart shaped, romantic shows, movies and commercial are all over and restaurants have a lot of specials for couples to have a romantic dinner and celebrate.
While this time of year can be a very romantic and loving time, it can also be a very challenging time for people. Some people may have just recently broken up with a significant other or are going through a divorce. Some people may have just lost a friend or family member. It can be a sad time for those people as they reflect on the loss of love, rather than the celebration of it.
Because of the range of emotions people will be feeling around Valentine’s Day, it provides believers and ministry leaders a great opportunity to share the love of Christ with others. How? Here are 2 truths of God’s love to remember and a few actions you can take Valentine’s week.
God Loves Us All
In order to share love and encouragement to others, we have to first fully understand that we are loved by God. Let’s look at what the Bible says about how much God loves us.
Romans 5:8 ESV – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 3:16 ESV – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 8:37-39 CSB – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In order to love other people, we have to first know that we are loved. God loves you so much and has shown it all throughout history and your life. Know you are loved by God! Click To TweetOur Call to Love Others
While we are all loved by God and given the opportunity to be children of God, we are called to share that love with others. Here are a few verses on what it means to love others as Christ called us to love.
1 John 4:7 ESV – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
John 13:34-35 CSB – “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV – “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.”
Knowing that you are loved is wonderful, but God calls you to love others as well. Howe will you show others you love them today? Click To TweetHow to Love Others
There are a variety of ways that you can love and encourage others during Valentine’s week.
Text or email someone something encouraging. Your cell phone is a powerful communications tool. Use it to text or email someone you know. Give them a word of encouragement, share a Bible verse or just check in on them and let them know you are thinking of them.
Call someone. We rarely get phone calls anymore. Take time out of your day to call someone and see how they are doing. It could be a family member or a friend.
Send someone an e-gift. A coffee gift card or a gift card from a favorite food place is a great way to let others know you are thinking of them and that you value them as a friend or family member. The great news is that you can do it simply from your phone or computer as it gets emailed or texted to them. It will be a nice surprise for someone.
Encourage someone on social media. Just like texting someone, pick out different people on social media that you know and message them encouragement. Make sure it is a person who you don’t know their cell number or email addresses.
Deliver something special to someone. This could be a note, a baked good, a gift card, a cup of coffee or something else entirely. Even if you go deliver it to someone and they are not home, drop it off at the front door and write and encouraging message on it.
God demonstrated his love for us. There are multiple ways we can show our family members and friends just how much they mean to us. See how. Click To TweetChallenge
You are loved by God. He loves you even when you didn’t deserve it. Because God loves us, we can go and love others, especially those who need it. While the week of Valentine’s Day is a great starting point to share God’s love with others, choose to share God’s love beyond Valentine’s week. Let people know regularly that there is a God in heaven loves the more than any person can. And, let them know that you care for them and want the best for them as well.
What will you start incorporating today? Before you finish reading this post, write down a quick action plan that you can start implementing today so that you can avoid social media mistakes. Share them below or on social media.
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