This time of year, it’s easy to get the idea that love is all about cards, carnations, and candy. Thankfully, the Bible reveals what it really means to give and receive love.

Here are six verses about love to reflect on and share this Valentine’s Day:

1. Genesis 24:67

“Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

Marital love shows up in even the earliest Bible stories. Genesis reveals that Isaac loved his wife, Rebekah. Although there are plenty of examples in Scripture of spouses behaving badly, God’s desire has always been for marriage to reflect His love.

Consider Paul’s counsel to the men of the Ephesian congregation: “Love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

Loving like Christ is a high bar. But for Christians, imitating Jesus should be the goal in every area of life, including marriage.

2. Psalm 13:5

“I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”

Valentine’s Day can be difficult for those who are going through a breakup. Sadly, romantic love doesn’t always last.

God’s love is different. His love is perfect, complete and eternal. It is unfailing. Even when we fail Him, He never fails to love us. This is the kind of love Paul had in mind when he said, “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

In a world that is often painful and unpredictable, it’s good to know we can count on the unfailing love of God.

3. Matthew 5:44

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Love is not just for those on our Valentine’s Day shopping lists. During His sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His followers to love everyone — even enemies and persecutors.

Jesus posed these convicting questions in verses 46–47: “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”

Loving our family and friends is a good start. But Jesus calls us to go further, following His lead. After all, He reached out to us in love “while we were God’s enemies” (Romans 5:10).

In a world that is often painful and unpredictable, it’s good to know we can count on the unfailing love of God.

4. John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

On the cross, Jesus performed the greatest act of love the world has ever known — laying down His life so His friends could live eternally.

Who are Jesus’ friends? “You are my friends,” Jesus said, “if you do what I command” (John 15:14, emphasis added). And what does Jesus command? Verse 17 says, “This is my command: Love each other.”

Biblical love is much more than a warm feeling. Love for God and others is a command, an obedient heart posture, and the appropriate response to the gospel.

5. 1 Corinthians 13:4

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Young people often want to know how they can recognize true love. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul provides a lengthy description of what love looks like — and what it doesn’t look like.

The “love chapter,” as some call it, frequently shows up at weddings, on wall hangings, and even in Valentine’s Day cards. However, this list of dos and don’ts isn’t just about romantic relationships. It’s a challenging message that cuts to the heart of our selfish human nature and reminds us to depend on God in every kind of interaction — from parenting to pastoring.

In verse 5, Paul goes on to say of love, “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” We’ve all failed in at least one of these areas.

If these words seem impossible to live by on our own, that’s probably the point. It’s no accident that this discussion falls between two chapters on spiritual gifts. We need love to exercise the gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of others, and we need the Spirit to love as we should.

6. 1 John 4:8

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Since God’s very nature is love, knowing God is knowing love. Conversely, John contends that if love is absent from our lives, it’s an indication we don’t know God at all.

This is a sobering reminder that we need to examine our hearts and continually ask God to give us His compassion for people.

Christians not only experience God’s love, but they also express it — on Feb. 14 and every other day of the year.