Happy Sabbath and Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!

For the month of February, I want to focus on love — and what it looks like in our Christian walk. Whether in romantic relationships, family, friendships, or community, being able to identify and exhibit a Christ-like love is essential in our walk with Christ.

That conviction is why I felt led to dedicate this entire month to Godly love. My prayer is that our hearts and minds will be open to allowing the love of Christ to flow into us and transform us — inside and out.

Before we talk about identifying Christ-like love in others, we must first understand the Biblical definition of Christ-like love.

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The Biblical Definition Of Christ-Like Love

Love That Sacrifices — Self-Giving

John 15:13 (NIV)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Love That Initiates — Even Toward The Undeserving

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Love That Serves Humbly

John 13:14-15 (NIV)
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Love That Obeys The Father

John 14:15 (NIV)
““If you love me, keep my commands.”

Love That Reflects God’s Character

1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
“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.”

Love That Is Patient, Kind, And Steady

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Love That Forgives

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Love That Looks Like Jesus

Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
“and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Christ-like love is sacrificial, humble, obedient, forgiving, patient, truth-filled, and initiated by grace — modeled by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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A Valentine’s Day Reminder

Around Valentine’s Day, many may be looking for someone special to call their Valentine.

I remember in high school when Valentine’s Day felt like such a big deal. Students had the opportunity to choose someone to be their “cutie” by giving them one of those small, sweet cutie oranges. Announcements would be made in class as they were distributed, and many of us — myself included — would sit there anxiously wondering if we might receive one from someone we had a crush on or maybe from someone unexpected.

I have experienced both sides — receiving a cutie and not receiving one. When others were handed theirs and there was nothing for you, it could feel disappointing. It had a way of making you question whether you were special, chosen, or loved.

But here is the truth.

We do not need a Valentine or a “cutie” to be special, chosen, or loved.

We already are.

We find all of that — and more — in Jesus Christ.

We are His every single day. Not just on February 14th. Every day.

What an honor it is to be chosen daily by our Heavenly Father. Why stress year after year about being someone’s Valentine when we are already written on Someone’s heart — the Lord our God?

He is the definition and example of true and Christ-like love.

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:16 (NIV)
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

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How To Identify Christ-Like Love

Now that we understand the definition, how do we identify it?

We can begin by asking:

• Does this person exemplify a character similar to Christ’s?
• Are they living with God at the center of their life?
• Do they have a personal relationship with Christ that is evident in the fruit they produce?

If the answer is no, then there is likely self-evaluation that needs to take place between that individual and Christ so that transformation may occur.

Scripture supports this call to examine the heart.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

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Distinguishing Christ-Like Character

You might be asking, how can I truly know if someone is exhibiting a character similar to Christ’s?

That is a wise question.

Scripture gives us clear direction.

The Fruit Of The Spirit — The Clearest Test

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Love As The Primary Evidence

John 13:35 (NIV)
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

1 John 3:10 (NIV)
“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”

Obedience To Christ

John 14:21 (NIV)
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.””

1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

Humility

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Integrity In Private And Public

Matthew 7:16-20 (NIV)
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Self-Examination

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
““Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

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What Christ-Like Character Demonstrates

Someone exhibiting Christ-like character will consistently demonstrate:

• Love rooted in truth
• Obedience to God’s Word
• Humility
• Forgiveness
• Self-control
• Growing fruit of the Spirit
• A willingness to repent

Not perfection — but direction. Growth. Softness toward conviction.

It is important to remember that only God sees the heart fully. We are called to discern fruit, not judge salvation.

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A Prayer For You

I pray over anyone reading this who may be worried about whether they will ever find love — who may feel overlooked, forgotten, or unseen during seasons like Valentine’s Day.

Lord, I pray they would place their complete trust in You. Remind them that You loved and chose them before they were ever born. They do not need an earthly Valentine or “cutie” to be loved when they have an Almighty God who loves them unconditionally and chooses them daily.

Do not settle for less than the love God defines and models.

You are special. You are loved. You are chosen.

Today, The Lord gently asks, “Will you be Mine?”

Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Amen.