What is Love?
It's Valentine's Day again tomorrow and I'm eager to know the true meaning of "Love" Because I really think that this day is So overrated and people spent to much attention to the things they don't even really know... and that's the meaning of Love!. Everybody has an explaination of what love is! but is it True? Maybe it is or maybe not!
For some people Love is just an emotion, a good feeling of being loved, an affection towards another person, but none of this comes close to the thruth about Love. The true meaning of love, as defined in the Bible, has been corrupted in the common usage of our English language and society. Most often, love is confused with infatuation - that elated, "high" feeling we get when we "fall in love." This kind of "love" is something that lasts typically less than a year, and unless replaced by true love, results in broken relationships. If you really want to know what love is then open the Bible at 1 John 4:7-10
Then you will find out that "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 1 John 4:8 The primary meaning of the word "love" in Scripture is a "purposeful commitment to sacrificial action for another." In the Bible it is a fact that loving God is equated with obeying His Word. The two are inseparable. In our day, most define love as some type of feeling. We "fall in love," or two people meet and it is "love at first sight." But the world's love is a selfish matter. If you are attractive to me, be nice to me, meet my needs and love me I in return will "love" you. The world's love is based on getting something from someone else. The world does not give love where is does not benefit themselves. If you do not please me then I have no love for you. Thus for the world love must be earned by making someone else feel good. Powerful emotions may accompany love, but it is the commitment of the will that holds true biblical love steadfast and unchanging. Emotions may change, but a commitment to love in a biblical manner endures and is the hallmark of a disciple of Christ. Sadly, the opposite is also true. Emotions will vary, but a commitment which has its basis in biblical love will not be affected by the whelm of emotion or of one's circumstances. Our example of true love is shown in God's love for the sinner. Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The lost sinner living in rebellion and sin is still loved by the Lord. He loved us enough to die for us and pay our sin debt while we were sinning against Him. This shows that true biblical love is a matter of will....not of emotion. God choose to love us and His love was not based on our meriting it in any way.
What is Biblical Love?1. Biblical love is defined by God in His Grace. Grace is "unmerited favor." 2. It is further defined in the word "agape" that is translated in to the English word "love." The word expresses the highest form of love which is the love of God for mankind. This love is one that is freely given because one wills to give it. It is not based on any merit of the individual. 3. True biblical love can only be know by the actions that it prompts. It is not the love of complacency or affection, that is not drawn out by any excellency in it objects. 4. Perfect love is seen the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ agonized over what he would be enduring within hours as He suffered for the sins of all the world. Yet, he said "Not my will, but thine be done." Only a pure love could suffer for the world, fully knowing that most of the world would reject Christ's sacrifice for them. Love produces action...and if love is present it will be seen. 5. True love will produce sacrifice for the one who is loved. That is why today, some many live uncommitted lives. They are hot one minute and ice cold the next. True biblical love produces stability in one's life. 6. Love is not the kind of motivation that is whipped up in an emotional message by a good preacher. Yes, many churches live from week to week getting having to be pumped up by emotional messages each week. Most of that kind of preaching never lasts much past the door of the church. By the time folks get home its over and its back to apathy and being complacent. 7. Yet, a true love for God, based on His immeasurable love for us...will keep you going when life is black as pitch and trouble is on every side. True biblical love will not be a roller coaster ride....it will keep you confidently moving ever forward...steadily for the Lord.
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