What It Means To Love

Is love a feeling? Is love a sensation of butterflies? Is love "chemistry"? 

For some, love is a deep affection for someone. For others, it is an interest or pleasure in something.

Love is a decision one makes to give and sacrifice oneself for the benefit of someone or something else.

First, let's explore the reasons why we should love. We must love because our Heavenly Father commands us to do so. Indeed, the greatest commandment God ever gave us is to love.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

In addition, the Word of God makes it clear that if we do not love, we lack value. The Christian life is centered around love and as children of the Most High, we must reflect and manifest love to each other, fraternal love, love of our neighbor. Our Christian faith should not be about worthless actions. We can give to the poor, have thousands of gifts and talents, speak in tongues all day, and so on, but if we lack love, we are nothing. 

"And if I were to have the gift of prophecy  with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains,  but have never learned to love, then I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2 TPT)

"Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.  So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run. " (1 Corinthians 13:13 TPT)

There is so much love this world is missing, and as the Light of the World, we Christians should display love everywhere around us to tame the darkness in the world. 

So what exactly is Love...

God is Love. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

As John states in his 3rd chapter, love is an action. We cannot claim to love if we are not giving, sacrificing, providing for the recipients of our love. As a Christian woman, it is my obligation to love my neighbor. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we already have love inside of us, but we are to manifest this love by concrete actions. Indeed, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

Love is

- patient, 

- kind, 

- gentle, 

- does not envy,

- does not boast,

- is not proud, 

- is not jealous, 

- is not self-seeking, 

- keeps no record of wrongs, 

- is not angered,

- protects, 

- trusts, 

- hopes,

- perseveres...

(1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)

That's true love! Love is not lust! Love is Jesus, the Ultimate Sacrifice!

I will not pretend that I have consistently loved my neighbor as our Heavenly Father commands us to do. Love is painful because when we love, we have to crucify the flesh and live by the Spirit, which is a challenge in this side of eternity. However, love is worth it as it heals hearts, binds up wounds, restores relationships and is overall a command of the Father. I am consistently striving to love my brothers and sisters. On a personal note, patience is my daily fight, but by the grace of God and in His infinite mercy, I am getting better and am continuously transformed into the person my Father has created me to be. And I am confident that He who is starting this great work in me will bring it to completion until the final days (Philippians 1:6). And if He will do it for me, He will do it for you too. Let us therefore stop lashing out, gossiping, judging, cursing, envying, and instead make this world a better place, a little heaven on earth!

By His grace, nothing is impossible and perfect love is achievable! Let us remain in love, my dear brothers and sisters, as it is written, love surpasses them all.

CAL

Prayer: Dear God, we know You love us, because You are Love itself, thank You for the gift of Jesus, Your ultimate Sacrifice and greatest manifestation of Your love for us. We ask that You please teach us how to love each other as You have commanded us to do. Even though loving unconditionally is not always the easiest thing to do, please let our flesh submit to Your Spirit, so that we may conquer this world with Your love. With You, nothing is impossible and we can do all things through Jesus Christ Who strengthens us. Let our love for You and our neighbor grow exponentially, in Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Other References: 1 John 4:7-21; 1 John 3:18