When Love Looks Like Jesus

Valentine’s Day has a way of stirring up all kinds of emotions. For some, it’s a day of celebration and connection. For others, it’s a reminder of loss, loneliness, or unmet expectations. No matter where we are on the emotional spectrum, Valentine’s Day offers us a beautiful opportunity. It allows us to pause and remember what real love looks like.

Not the kind sold in greeting cards or measured by the size of a bouquet. Not the kind that depends on perfect circumstances or flawless people. Real love—the kind that changes us—looks like Jesus.

Jesus loved with intention. He noticed the forgotten, welcomed the broken, and touched the untouchable. He spoke truth with compassion and offered grace without hesitation. His love wasn’t sentimental; it was sacrificial. It wasn’t shallow; it was steadfast. It wasn’t based on what He could gain, but on what He came to give.

And here’s the remarkable part. Scripture tells us something profound in John 13:34:

“. . . as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (NKJV).

That’s not a suggestion. It’s a calling. It’s a daily invitation. We can let His love reshape the way we treat the people around us. This includes our families, coworkers, neighbors, and even the difficult ones we’d rather avoid.

This Valentine’s Day, instead of focusing on what we receive, what if we focused on what we reflect? What if our words carried more kindness, our patience stretched a little further, and our generosity flowed a little freer? What if someone experienced the love of Christ simply because they crossed our path?

Love isn’t just a feeling to celebrate once a year. It’s a lifestyle shaped by the One who loved us first, loved us fully, and loves us still.

May this Valentine’s Day draw us back to the heart of the One who defines love. May His love shine through us in ways that make a difference.