So, I have a question for you…
What is YOUR definition of Love???
Do you have it???
Okay…now, for the next question…
Who/what do you love???
Got it???
Good.
Now, for the question of the hour…
Why???
What part of your being is SO bent on loving these people/things??? Would you go to the ends of the Earth for them??? Would you give your life for them???
How about this…
Do these people /things have the ability or longing to love you back???
Now, does this match up with your definition of what love is???
So, there is absolutely no right or wrong answers to any of the above questions. It is simply based on how you answered them. The definition of LOVE is a pretty broad term nowadays. I mean, I love buying the latest fashions, I love listening to music, I love filmmaking and SO much more. I also love catching up with old friends and making new ones, spending quality time with the family, and I especially LOVE Jesus. Now, are you starting to see a trend here??? I LOVE a lot of things…however, that is the problem at hand. There are SO many things to “love” that the word is losing its meaning. The truth, I do like getting dressed up, but do I necessarily love it??? Because if I say I love Jesus, then why would I use that same powerful word for something as mediocre as watching the latest Glee episode??? This is entirely my personal opinion, but I feel like human beings need to stop using the word “love” until he or she actually considers saying the word to someone/something worthwhile.
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and it was the first time I had hung out with a group of women. Normally, I would have made sure I was working on this particular day unless I had a “special someone” to spend it with. So needless to say, it was a nice change. This year, we did NOT make it about the love humans like to buy, but about what LOVE actually is: GOD.
Jesus humbled himself and came to earth, was crucified, and then was raised back up on the third day so that OUR sins would be forgiven; that any burdens we, as humans, may have could be set at the foot of the Cross. That’s love.Or how about forgiveness??? Yes, this word is a lot easier said than done, but if you REALLY think about it, Jesus forgave. In fact HE forgives you and me EVERYDAY. So, if Jesus is God and God is love, then forgiveness IS love for Jesus forgave.
Truth??? Jesus longs for HIS children to be truthful to one another so that our community becomes stronger and stronger in HIM. However, if we cannot speak encouraging words or call someone out when they have wronged us, then bitterness grows and love fades away. Jesus is ALWAYS truthful and delights in honesty. So, if Jesus is God and God is love, then truth IS love for Jesus speaks truth.
Is grace love??? Well, if you think about it, Jesus is continually pouring grace upon HIS lost sheep because they were born with a sinful nature that only HE can heal. This means, humans should show grace to those who do not have all the answers or who are stubborn to try to find the answers. As humans, we always mess up the BIG and LITTLE puzzle pieces of our life, but Jesus allows us to have grace in order for us to confide in HIM to fit the pieces together. So, if Jesus is God and God is love, then grace IS love for Jesus gives grace.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says it all…
“Love is PATIENT, love is KIND. It does not ENVY, it does not BOAST, it is not PROUD. It is not RUDE, it is not SELF-SEEKING, it is not easily ANGERED, it keeps no record of WRONGS. Love does not delight in EVIL but rejoices in the TRUTH. It always PROTECTS, always TRUSTS, always HOPES, always PERSEVERES. Love NEVER fails.”
I do not know about you, but my definition of love was not of this. My definition of love was what consumerism has etched in my brain as the right kind of love. Yes, I KNOW that God is love, but when you start putting in terms that love comes with a lot more responsibility then what was anticipated, I start to realize that I always need to be reminded of why we love. “We love because HE fist loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
So my challenge to you is to start loving the way God intended us too and to ONLY say the word love when you REALLY mean it. I am going to try as well and let’s see if we can SHOW the love of Christ. Here is my first attempt, I like reading but I LOVE being in the word. Now, you try to take the challenge.
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
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