With Valentine’s Day but only a few days away, I thought it might be a good time to take a few minutes and consider what the Bible has to say about love. Below you will find some verses from Scripture as a reminder of what love really means and how we are called as Christians to love others.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16, NRSVUE)
“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:34-39, NRSVUE)
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35, NRSVUE)
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. (Luke 6:32-35a, NRSVUE)
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NRSVUE)
Over the next several days, let us all ponder what this love looks like – not just for our sweethearts, but also for God, for our neighbors, and for our enemies – for this is the love that God provides for us, and the Christian love we are called to share with others.
Love and blessings to you all,
Pastor Steve
