“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.” -1 John 3:16

It’s that time of year again, when the stores are filled with red and pink candies, stuffed animals and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. Some people look forward to Valentine’s Day each year, while others are impartial or may even dislike it.

The holiday centered on love does not only have to be applied to couples, though.

No matter how you feel about this holiday, as Christians, we are called to love at all times. Why? Because God first loved us. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that those who believe in Him may have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were undeserving, God showed love to us. Therefore, we are to show love to others.

When it comes to true love, we can look to the life of Jesus as our example to follow. His love was shown through His actions and in the way He lived. For example, He served others and always did so with a humble attitude. This can be seen in John 13 when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.

In addition, the love of Jesus was not selective, as He walked among men and spent time with those who were considered outcasts by society. This can be seen in Luke 19 when Jesus empathizes with Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was looked down upon by others.

True love is not solely based on attraction or our emotions. Rather, true love is an action. 1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

There are many ways to show love to others in our daily lives, such as by taking time out of our busy schedules to care for someone else. Acts of true love do not have to be extravagant – they can be as simple as encouraging someone when they are down or being a good listener.

So, let this Valentine’s Day serve as a reminder of the importance of showing Christ-like love to others. Remember that true love is selfless and sacrificial. Ultimately, when we show this kind of love to others, we point them to Christ.

Grand Canyon University’s Department of Spiritual Life helps the GCU community grow in a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. To learn more about spiritual life at GCU, visit our website.