It is St Valentine's Day! Love is in the air. People are on romantic getaways and enjoying surprises for their loved ones. It's a time to celebrate.
It's a season where romantic love is centre of attention. And this is good. But it is not the limit of love. Enshrined within this four letter word is a vast array of emotions and expressions of devotion, that go far beyond a cheesy valentine's card message (however great they might be!).
The Bible reveals the depths of love and its multi-faceted and wide ranging nature. These are ten Bible verses that delve a little deeper into the meaning of love:
1 John 4:7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one that this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 3:16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Matthew 22:37-39 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 neighbour as yourself'."
Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
Matthew 5:43-45 You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
1 Corinthians 12:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
