In this blog I want to focus on ONE QUESTION…
What is love?
Let’s see what Webster dictionary says.
Love is:
1. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection.
2. a sexual passion or desire.
3. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything.
Personally I believe Webster got it wrong here! Everyone of those statements above are shallow definitions of love.
The world has twisted, perverted and watered down the most powerful attribute in EXISTENCE! It’s used wrongly far to often today. I hear people use it all the time to describe their favorite songs, shows, movies etc..” It’s absolutely ridiculous! The world has transformed LOVE into a vain characterless attribute.
Now although I appreciate Webster, I don’t look to him for true understanding. I look to The Bible…
Romans describes Love as “the fulfillment of the law”… Not a warm fuzzy feeling we get inside us or our favorite song on the radio.
As I read the Bible I can’t help but notice how supremely powerful the love of God is! It’s a magnificent display of VICTORY over distress, tribulation, persecution, famine, disease, war, nakedness and above all DEATH.
Traveling to India and Nepal I’ve had the opportunity to share the gospel in some heavily influenced Hindu areas. During those conversations I’ve noticed a similar response at the end of our conversations…
“You know… the 1st time I heard the gospel, God’s love sounded kinda weak and usless.”
The fact that multiple Hindus have told me this has me a little concerned about the gospel that’s being preached today.
What does the word of God say about The Gospel of Christ’s Love?
Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
God bluntly asks us to LOVE, DO GOOD and HELP the very people that despise, hate, persecute and even betray us!
Loving your enemies… Easier said than done. BUT, when witnessed… It’s a remarkable display of Gods POWER!
Below I wrote a short testimony of the LOVE described in Romans.
There was a sweet young girl who lived in a small village in Moldova. At a very young age she went through many tragic events. The most traumatic of those events involved living with her own father. Her father treated her like a worthless animal and abused her for many years. Every night after work he would leave the house to go drink. And when he left, he left his daughter behind… Tied to a tree with a steel chain wrapped around her neck.
Ten years later she completely forgave her father and EVERYDAY TO THIS VERY MOMENT… She drives to her the very house she was tortured at for years and delivers her father lunch.
He doesn’t speak A WORD to her. He just looks at her as if she were a terrible mistake. YET, she keeps showing up day after day, month after month, year after year.
WHAT’S LOVE? THAT’s LOVE! That is the GOSPEL OF CHRIST and it’s BEYOND POWERFUL! There is no explanation for it except Christ and Christ alone.
Let that same Love be the fulfillment of our lives. For it is the greatest commandment of all.
