Loved First: What Scripture Says About Love
Valentine’s Day gives us plenty of language about love, but Scripture begins somewhere deeper than romance, affection, or being chosen by another person.
“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
Christian love begins with receiving, not performing.
We do not make ourselves worthy enough for God to love us. The gospel tells us that God demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners, through Christ.
That changes the way we love other people.
We can love without demanding that another person prove our worth. We can tell the truth and still be kind. We can serve without needing applause. We can forgive without pretending harm was harmless. We can love children, spouses, friends, neighbors, and difficult people from a place of having already been loved by God.
Human love is a gift, but it was never meant to carry the weight of becoming our identity.
Whether Valentine’s Day feels joyful, ordinary, lonely, complicated, or painful this year, this remains true: in Christ, you are not waiting for another human being to establish whether you are worth loving.
You are invited to receive the love of God and let it reshape the way you love.
Artwork to keep close
Save, share, or print this handmade We love because he first loved us artwork. The high-resolution artwork opens in one click with no checkout.