Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” is one of the most famous love poems in history. Her sonnet starts with words that are now iconic: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Although this poem conveys her love for her husband, people continue to use the words to express their romantic feelings for others.
Browning loved her husband, but nothing can compare with God’s love for us. Scripture says that God demonstrated His love for us by sending His only Son to die for us so that we can receive eternal life by placing our faith in Him (John 3:16).
Unlike humans who tend to love conditionally, God’s love is immeasurable and limitless (Ephesians 3:17-19).
This Valentine’s Day, believers can help others “count the ways” that Christ loves them by presenting the good news of His death and resurrection, modeling Christlike service to others, using words to bring encouragement, and offering forgiveness to others.
The Love of Christ
Candy hearts, flowers, and even poems are fun gifts to receive, but only the cross can show us true love. Jesus willingly allowed the Romans to nail Him to the cross so that He could die for the sins of the world (John 10:18; 1 John 2:2).
Christ did not have to take our place. All humans rebel against the Lord and sin against Him (Romans 3:23). However, He hung on the cross, bloodied and struggling for breath, because He loved us. Romans 5:8 tells us, “Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us” (GOD’S WORD Translation).
Therefore, we can best understand love by looking at Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. He died for people, including us, who reviled and rejected Him. Jesus shows us that love is radical and, at times, painful. To many people, this type of love makes no sense. But this is the truest and most perfect love.
When thinking of spreading the love of Christ to others this Valentine’s Day, we need to remember that He showed love to others even when He was rejected and killed.
The type of love that Jesus calls us to is not easy, especially when we consider His commands to love our enemies and persecutors (Matthew 5:44).
We may find ourselves in difficult circumstances, struggling to show love to certain people, but God will help us. Because of His great love for us, we can love others (Mark 12:30-31; 1 John 4:7).
1. Share the Gospel
This point might sound cliché because churches and ministries usually encourage believers to share the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, the Christian life involves telling others about Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
The gospel is the most life-transforming news that anyone can receive and reveals the greatest love a person can know. Since our lives have been changed by Jesus, His love compels us to share the gospel with others so that they, too, may know Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
This Valentine’s Day, sharing the gospel may involve reconnecting with an old friend and engaging in a conversation about spiritual matters.
Maybe it means starting a friendship with someone over a cup of coffee, laying the foundation for future gospel-centered interactions. Or maybe telling the good news will involve sharing your testimony with a friend or family member.
Introducing people to the God who loves them and who died to save them often involves different approaches, but the message is always the same (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Regardless of how we begin to tell others the gospel, we can find joy in knowing that we are obeying the Lord and inviting others into a relationship with Him.
2. Go Out of Your Way to Help Someone Else
Jesus’ death on the cross is the greatest act of love. Thus, the essence of love is sacrifice. On Valentine’s Day, we can spread Christ’s love by going out of our way to help someone else.
Even something as simple as taking out the garbage, washing clothes, or cleaning dishes can show others that we care about them.
The world tells us that such tasks are below our dignity, but the Bible reminds us that we best follow Christ’s example by serving others (Matthew 20:28).
By humbling ourselves and sacrificing our time and energy, we take on the role of a servant (Philippians 2:5-8). We might not enjoy doing certain tasks, but we can demonstrate Christlike care by taking on a responsibility or chore that others normally complete.
3. Encourage a Lonely Neighbor or Friend
While this holiday is an occasion of joy for many people, Valentine’s Day can also increase a person’s loneliness if they are single yet desire marriage or if they are married but experiencing problems.
Also, those who have lost loved ones can struggle during a day that emphasizes spending time with those they love.
If you know someone who is alone, suffering from grief, or experiencing a difficult season in their marriage, then you can use Valentine’s Day to encourage that person. Scripture reminds us that we should use our words to build each other up (Ephesians 4:29).
Taking time to talk to a hurting individual on the phone or in person could brighten their day. Also, a handwritten, beautiful card or carefully written text message can remind them that they are not forgotten.
In thinking of encouraging others, though, we need to remember that love involves action. As John reminds us, “Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions” (1 John 3:18, NLT).
Telling someone that we are there for them and truly showing up in their time of need are two different things. So, if we tell someone that they can contact us if they need anything or that we will pray for them, we need to ensure that we intend to keep that promise before making it.
4. Extend Forgiveness
When we trust in Christ for salvation, we receive forgiveness of sins. As I noted earlier, nothing we do earns this grace. It is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Because believers received undeserved forgiveness from God through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can extend forgiveness to others (Ephesians 4:32).
The gospel also changes how we view forgiveness. Instead of expecting that others must change or “earn” our favor, we can show grace. Forgiving another person who has hurt or wronged us demonstrates the love of Christ in our life.
Forgiving someone might seem like a strange thing to do on Valentine’s Day, but extending grace to others embodies the love that Jesus showed us.
Taking the first steps toward forgiveness on this holiday could include talking to God or reading Bible verses about forgiveness (Psalm 103:8; Matthew 18:21-35; Colossians 3:13).
The ability to extend grace to someone may take time and cause us to struggle, but we do not have to do it alone. Forgiving others is possible in Christ.
Why Does This Matter?
Christians can enjoy chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s Day, but they should remember that love is best defined by Jesus’ sacrificial death.
Because of His death and resurrection, we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. On this holiday that focuses on love, we can point people to Christ, the One who loves us the most.
For further reading:
Can Christians Enjoy Valentine’s Day?
How to Love More Than Just on Valentine’s Day
What Is Valentine's Day and Is it Connected to Christianity?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/anon-tae
