What is love?

"See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (1 John 3:1)

Love, so often we want it, but so seldom do we really, truly focus on what it is.  We love BECAUSE He first loved us.

 

Love is not a feeling. Happiness is a feeling.

Love is not an emotion. Anger is an emotion.

Love is not a "state". Confusion is a state. (So is Delaware, the first state in fact, but I digress.)

While love can have all of these expressions associated with it, it is still more - so much more. Love is a decision.

What we are formed by and immersed in so often, though, is the worldly interpretations and definitions of love, which are often short-sighted and self-directed.

The world says that "love is blind". The truth, however, is that LOVE sees 20/20. It sees our imperfections, our sin and our failings - all of our humanity, and says, "I still choose to love you."

The world says that "love means never having to say you are sorry". That's a crock. You want the truth? Ask a married couple. They'll tell you, "Love means having to say you are sorry A LOT."

The world says that "love is give and take". They're half right. Love is GIVE. The "and take" is often added out of fear. Fear that the other is not going to offer love back, fear that the other will take advantage and manipulate and fear that we'll be left with nothing in return. There's nothing "and take" about the cross. The Lord gives us Salvation and we don't even "take" that - we receive it.

The world says that "love is priceless". Not true. Love carries a price tag, a heavy one, and He picked up the tab, for you and for me. We never could have flipped that bill, but Jesus paid the price.

The world also tells us that "love doesn't come in a box". Yes it does. Love dwells in the "box" in every church, in the Tabernacle where love dwells in the flesh, for you and I to adore.

The world tells us that "love doesn't grow on trees". Yes it does. Love GREW out of a tree on Calvary that day. The tree of love was planted on stony ground (our hearts) and the roots (Jesus' blood) ran deep below the earth, crushing sin and ushering in LIFE.

Pray this verse today, really pray it. Recite it and learn it and know it, for "we love BECAUSE He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

I once read, "A bell's not a bell until you ring it. A song's not a song until you sing it. Love in your heart is not put there to stay. Love isn't love until you give it away."

The Christian knows where to find love in the midst of a world that does not Offer love today, in its purest form, and you will wake up tomorrow more like God, who is love.

Decide to love. Seek love. Without it you're not really living, only breathing.

What is Love by Mark Hart at lifeteen.com