Love is…
What is love? I’ve heard a thousand interpretations with varying degrees of truth, but one thing I know for sure is that love is NOT that “warm and squishy” feeling you get when you’re around someone you’re attracted to. Love is commitment, and it is impossible without sacrifice–plain and simple! Love has nothing to do with the behavior of the other individual (or individuals) in question, and nothing to do with any other element either. Love either IS, or love IS NOT. Understanding that simple truth can help us understand how it is that God can love us in spite of our shortcomings–how He continuously forgives us as we repent and call on Him in the name of Jesus Christ. With all that said, I must say that about 99 out of 100 times I hear the words, “I love you,” in the various media, the word “lust” or “desire” could replace the word “love” with a much greater degree of accuracy. To love someone means to sacrifice for them… period! A mother sacrifices her career for the children she loves. A husband sacrifices a promotion to spend more time with the family he loves. A loving God sacrifices His only begotten Son to redeem the people who continue to wrong Him to this very moment. Love, without sacrifice, is non-existent!
The next time you hear the word “love,” analyze it for yourself!
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2