Alone at Valentine’s – Part 2
If you know Jesus Christ, you are not alone, because Jesus promised He would never leave or forsake those who love Him. Connecting with Him is a sure way to not feel lonely during early February when it seems the wh
ole world is celebrating Valentine’s. However, something else will further fight the feeling of loneliness if you are down because you are not that special someone for somebody else.
When we are lonely, it’s because we are thinking of what we are missing, rather than being grateful for what we have. We want someone to love us, to be with us, to give us attention. If we continue to focus on what we’re missing, we will feel increasingly lonely and alone.
Jesus has a cure for that. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Many people around you are in need. If you are lonely, reach out to someone else. As you show love, you will be blessed in return.
Jesus also said, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). Don’t show love to someone else expecting them to reciprocate equally, give in order to bless the other person, with the assurance that the Lord will bless you in return. He will fill your need in accordance with how much you give out.
In His Word, God gives many guidelines for reaching out to others in love. A few of them are:
“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?” (Matt. 5:46). Bless someone outside your normal circles and see what happens.
“Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble” (Is. 35:3).
“Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Th. 5:11).
‘This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (Jam. 1:27).
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:13-14).
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Col. 16:14).
“We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).
If we follow Christ and are obedient to His Word, there is no reason to be lonely or alone at Valentine’s. We can be His arms and legs to carry His love to others. If we do that, we will be blessed too. Chances are, part of that blessing is that we we will no longer feel lonely.
Who can you reach out to for Valentine’s this year?