Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday for encouraging someone and reminding them that we are thinking of them and love them.

When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus said that to love God was the first and foremost commandment, and to love one’s neighbor was the second most important commandment. (*See Matthew 22:37-38) 

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:20-21

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Jesus Christ wanted His disciples to lay their lives down for each other. There are many who might have all of their material needs satisfied, but who may be isolated and need a word of encouragement.

Such people need to hear that someone is thinking about them. There are those who are suffering, who are bedridden, who live with chronic pain, who need to be reminded that they are not forgotten by the Lord. We are Christ’s ambassadors according to 2 Corinthians 5:20 and can remind them that their lives are of infinite value, to hang on and not give up.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share a card with someone you love, and with those who need to hear from us as the Lord leads. 
I believe the Lord would have us pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to share with those who need an encouraging word of love. He wants to use each of us if we will allow Him to.

Jesus said,“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:” John 10:27

We have to stop and listen if we want to hear our Good Shepherd. We have to be willing to do His will, and not our own will.
It is always a great joy to do Christ’s will even though it may cost us something in terms of time, effort, or be a challenge in some way.

His sacrifices are not always of a financial nature by any means. 
At least I have found this repeatedly to be so in my life and I have walked with the Lord Jesus Christ since I was sixteen years old.

When the Lord asks us to give Him everything, He means not only material things, He means also our fears, our doubts, our worries—in other words, to trust Him that He will do the impossible despite all appearances to the contrary, and all we have to do is to walk by faith and obey Him.

Obedience is what God wants. 

Obedience is true love for God in His eyes. When we obey a human voice above God’s Word, the Lord regards such an act as idolatry. God does not need our money: He desires our love. 
And when we listen to His voice and obey Him by faith, He regards that as genuine worship and pure love for Him.

Jesus said,” Those who really love Me are the ones who not only know My commands but also obey them. My Father will love such people, and I will love them. I will make Myself known to them.”
“All who love Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them. My Father and I will come to them and live with them. 
24 But anyone who does not love Me does not obey My teaching. This teaching that you hear is not really Mine. It is from My Father who sent Me.” John 14:21,22,24

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “… the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” John 4:23 NIV
The Apostle Paul wrote, “The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.” Romans 8:14 (ERV)

In Romans 8, Paul wrote that we do not need to live in fear of walking in the Spirit.To deny the truths of the Gospel as a professing Christian is living in the flesh or, in other words to be carnally or worldly minded and influenced by the god of this world and not inspired by the Holy Spirit. (If we align or conform ourselves to the world and its ruler we are condemned because God's enemy is under His judgment. The Lord Jesus Christ said “…and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:11)

To even receive the Holy Spirit is predicated upon not being worldly minded (or in other words, opposed to God's will --i.e, not in conformity to Christ's whole truth. One who professes to love and believe in Christ cannot edit out the parts of God's Word that may frighten or make them uncomfortable. That is denying or suppressing the Truth. That is conforming to the world.The flesh is opposed to the Spirit Paul teaches in Romans 8. It will not accept what is only acceptable by faith. Without faith we cannot please God. Hebrews 11:6
 

Jesus said ”.. The world cannot accept Him, (*The Holy Spirit) because it neither sees Him nor knows Him…” John 14:17.

But all of Christ’s true disciples who abide in Him and who obey Him receive His Holy Spirit. They are filled with the true love of Christ, Father God, and their fellow Christian: love characterizes their life. This is how all know that they are Christ’s true disciples. 
 

The Lord confides in those who fear Him…” Psalm 25:14 NIV

In John 13-15, Jesus was confiding wonderful truths to His disciples who remained closest to Him that day when He washed their feet and gave them His love command and told them about His impending betrayal and crucifixion.
He promised that they would receive His Spirit, but not the world.

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show Yourself to us and not to the world?” John 14:22

To which Jesus replied that those who loved Him would obey His teaching. And those who did not love Him would not obey Him. 
Notice that Judas was not present. The betrayer isn't mentioned in John's narrative while Jesus was confiding these important revelations to His closest disciples. Judas would soon betray his Master for only thirty pieces of silver.  

^“” For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10

Has not the Lord through His prophets said that He wants mercy and not sacrifice. (*see Hosea 6:6)  

God wants our love. He does not want our money nor all of our good works, though we built a tower to Heaven with them.
 

The Lord only wants us to love Him with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. 
We demonstrate our love through our obedience, even if that obedience means we simply abide in His presence and worship Him.

When we pray and abide in Him and listen to His voice and allow His Holy Spirit to guide us then we show we are truly His children. We are walking in the light as He is in the light.

Each of us will meet our Lord face to face one day when He appears the day we cross the threshold into Eternity. He will ask us what we did when He asked us to do His will~when we heard His voice. We must answer Him. Were we faithful stewards of the gift of His mercy and grace?

Did we love Him sincerely and His children with a pure heart, and walk in His light?