How to Love God This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is all about love. You’re supposed to give your loved one flowers, chocolate, and a romantic dinner. But what even is love? With so many definitions of love coming from music, movies, and social media, it’s easy to get lost in the biblical definition. 

. . .And if God loves us, how do we respond to that?

God’s Definition of Love

Scripture gives us clarity where culture cannot. The Bible tells us clearly: God is love (1 John 4:8). And we don’t have a greater example of love than what we have in God showing His love toward us.

 Probably the definitive statement on love is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV). God didn’t merely talk about love—He demonstrated it through the cross.

 And probably the greatest definition of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13.

Responding to His Love

God gives us this amazing example of love, and we respond by loving Him back.  In fact, the Bible says “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NKJV).

We can talk all day about how much we love God, sing about our love for Him, speak about it—but probably the best way to show our love for the Lord is in what we do.

Love God by Keeping His Commandments

How do we love God?  Jesus said to us in John 14:15, “‘If you love me, keep my commandments’” (NJKV).  And when He summarized the commandments in Matthew 22:37–40, He kept it simple: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (NKJV).

No Other Gods

The first commandment  is in Exodus 20:3: “‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’”

Any person, any pursuit, any passion that takes the place of God in our life could potentially be an idol.

The Lord wants to be number one in your life.

So the first commandment has to do with worshiping the right God. We must reject every false God in order to worship the true God, who is the only God.  But the second commandment has to do with worshiping the right God in the right way.

No Graven Images

The second commandment reminds us not to replace the living God with images, objects, or even mental versions of God that fit our preferences.

We must worship Him the way He wants us to worship Him because how we worship matters as much as whom we worship.

And  God’s not against art. He’s not against expression, especially as we reflect the beauty of His creation. Even in the Ark of the Covenant, cherubim  were sculpted to preside over it.

What Scripture is criticizing  is when we make those objects and use them as an aid to worship.

Scripture says to worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

Avoid false mental images too—don’t invent “My God is like…” versions.  Our God is zealous in His love for you and He wants you to be zealous in your love for Him.

Don’t Take His Name in Vain

Next, Exodus 20:7: “‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain’”

This includes profanity (“Jesus Christ!” to  punctuate a point), swearing to God (“I swear to God!”), frivolous uses (“Oh my God!”), or exploiting it for gain. And perhaps the worst is hypocrisy—calling Him “Lord” while disobeying (Luke 6:46).

Let’s not take His name in vain. His name is holy.

Show Love Through Obedient Living

You don’t do these things to be loved by God—you do them because you already are loved by God. Obedience isn’t a way to earn His love; it’s a response to it.

God loves you. Now the question is how you respond.

I want to show my love for Him not only in what I say or sing, but in how I live. As Scripture reminds us, if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).