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True LoveWelcome to iwantthemtoremember.com! We’ve made it to Day Seven of a week of Valentine’s Devotions for Families using Biblical passages on love!

If your family is at all like mine, you need Biblical reminders of how to love one another all year long, but the Valentine season is a great time to emphasize God’s teachings on love. Spend a week in February (or anytime really) encouraging your family to love with Valentine’s devotions. I suggest you start the Sunday before Valentine’s and celebrate love all week, but you can use them however is best for your family. Links for each day can be found at the end of this post. I pray these Valentine’s Devotions bless your family in Christ.

Click here to start with Day One.

Opening Activity

Play a few rounds of Spot the Difference online or use this Spot the Difference Quiz.

What made these differences hard or easy to notice? Sometimes there are subtle differences in our lives between what we say we believe about love and what we actually do. Sometimes these differences are obvious, instead of subtle.

Scripture Study

As we finish up Seven Days of Valentine’s Devotions for Families, let’s look at true love–love that is sincere, without hypocrisy, and shown in deed and truth.

Read Romans 12:9-21. This passage starts with a command to love without hypocrisy. What is hypocrisy? (Wait for answers, then share the definition below.)Scripture Study

Hypocrisy: pretending to be what one is not; assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals, or religion.

Love with hypocrisy is not really true love at all. It is pretending to love when the heart really is not in the actions. Name actions from the verses above that show true love without hypocrisy. (abhor evil, bless and not curse, weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, give to the needs of others, etc.)

Do you know people who are hypocrites? (Do not allow names or gossip.) What do those people do that make you think they are hypocrites?

Three levels of Hypocrisy

Only Jesus lived perfectly consistent in true love. We all act as hypocrites at times.

Occasional hypocrites sometimes say or do things inconsistent with their beliefs or words, but usually realize it and repent.

Habitual hypocrites make a habit of saying or doing things inconsistent with their beliefs, but sometimes realize it and repent

Lifestyle hypocrites constantly say or do things inconsistent with their beliefs or words, and do not care to notice or repent.

Where do you fall? It’s easy to see these subtle or not so subtle differences in others that we call hypocrisy, but we are often blind to the inconsistencies in ourselves. Because it is so hard to see hypocrisy in ourselves, we need Christian friends and leaders who can help correct us when needed.

In these situations, Christians should always speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), but as Christian brothers and sisters, we must also be willing to receive the truth with patience and humility rather denial and anger.

True love includes using the characteristics of love from 1 Corinthians 13 with sincerity and truth.

Family Affirmation and Application

Think of a time when you could tell a person in your family was showing you true love. Go around and let each person thank a family member for showing true love.

Think of a time recently when the love you showed to a family member was not true love without hypocrisy. Ask God to forgive you and help to love in a way that honors Him.

Worship through Song

God showed us what true love looks like through Jesus. If time permits, listen to the song below.

 

Closing Prayer

Father, thank you for all you’ve taught us in your word about love. Please help us to apply these truths to our lives and show true love to family, friends, strangers, and even enemies. Thank you that you are a good Father who loves us perfectly. In Jesus name, amen.

More Valentine’s Devotions for Families

Thank you for joining me for Valentine’s Devotions for Families. I am sharing this with my children and youth group because I want them to remember the importance of living a life of love. I hope it helps your loved ones remember as well.
See all Seven Days of Valentine’s Devotions for Families below.
Day One: Without Love
Day Two: Love Is . . .
Day Three: How He Loves
Day Four: Love God
Day Five: Love Others
Day Six: Love Yourself

Day Seven: True Love