What is True Love?

    Love..... I have to say, it's an interesting thing. Today of course is Valentine's Day. It's the day every year that people run to the local retail store to purchase roses, chocolate, a teddy bear, or a pretty card. There are "I Love You" 's, kisses, hugs, dates, engagements, and marriages. People everywhere think about their spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, love in the past, love in the future, love that could've been in the past, or love that could be in the future. It's the day that everyone celebrates Love. But let's put aside the flowers, put aside candles and kisses, chocolate and hearts. What is the real meaning of Love?

1 John 3:16 says,

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

    When you think about what the Bible has to say about Love, 1 Corinthians 13 says,

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

   

    I think there is no greater example of this Love than God, and His Son Jesus.

I am reminded of my favorite song:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

~Genesis 1:26

    God showed His love for us by creating us. He didn't need us, He didn't have to create us, but He made us because He loves us. He then put us in authority over all the things of the earth. The animals, the plants, and every living thing.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~John 3:16

    God showed His love to us by sending His one and only son to the world. How many of us would be willing to give up the person closest to us, for the lives of everyone in the world? I'm not sure I could make that choice! But God loved us enough, it wasn't even a choice for Him.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also"
~John 14:2-3

    God shows His love for us by preparing a place for us someday. Once again, we don't deserve it. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) but if we know Him as our personal saviour, God has prepared a special place for us, and He's coming to take us home someday.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
~1 John 1:9

    God shows His love for us by forgiving our sins. It's nothing that we deserve, we have all done bad things, but He forgives us without excuse, without questions, without conditions, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanses us from all sin.

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

~Hebrews 2:9

    Jesus showed His love for us by coming down from Heaven. He made Himself in a lower state, that way we could someday be higher. He came down from the right hand of God, and was born in a manger. He was born into this evil, sinful world so we could be saved.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
~John 15:3

    Jesus showed His love for me by giving his life for me. He who had everything, gave it all, so I, who had nothing, could have everything. He made the biggest sacrifice anyone could ever give.

   
    In return, God has given us two commands.

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."

~Matthew 22:37-38

    God doesn't ask much of us. He doesn't ask money, He doesn't ask for everything we own. He doesn't ask for all of our time, or attention, He asks for our Love. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength too. He wants us to love Him with everything we have, and in every aspect of our life.

"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." ~Matthew 22:39

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." ~John 15:12

God also wants us to love others around us. Whether it is our family, our friends, our acquaintances, or someone we may not even know, He wants us to show love to others wherever we go.

    The Bible refers to Love many times. Depending on which version of the Bible you use, it can be used anywhere between 310 and 508 times. As we think today on Love, it's not about dating, marriage, candy, or roses. I am just so thankful to God for the great example He has left for me, and for the true love that he gives me unconditionally, sacrificially, and selflessly. I hope and pray that my life will display the same kind of love He has shown to me every day.