who can best define love?

People will define words differently.  If we decided to use the same dictionary or the same understanding or a particular word or thought, life might be a little easier.  Yet that is not the way it works.  Confusion sets in.  People assume what we mean or what is intended in an email, a conversation or even an expression.

Such is true with our understanding of what real love is.  Being that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day I thought it might be helpful to talk about the definition of love.  Lets agree on a few things.  First, we will not assume that the world has cornered the market, so to speak, on what love is or how it responds.  Second, the beginning of love really is our incredible and unending God.  Finally, the definition held to will be rooted in what we find in the Bible.

With that decided we will take a look at what the Bible says to us about the concept of love and how we must share love with others.

Luke 10:27  NASB

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

That is the start.  Well, at least that is law and strength that God intends for His children.  Jesus said that those two things, loving God and loving our neighbor, hold all the law.

1 Corinthians 13:4,7  NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud… Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

You can go much deeper in to 1 Corinthians 13, and other verses, to see the various nuances of what unconditional, God’s kind of love is like.  But here is the heartbeat.  Love goes further and never ends.  Love believes when all others give up.  Love lifts and doesn’t suppress.  Love is full of real and lasting hope.  Love is from God.  Take a look at 1 John 4 for more of the evidence.

Joshua 23:11  NLT

So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

It is easy to let love grow cold or common.  That is why we are challenged and encouraged to love God and be careful to keep on loving.  It is much like a relationship that you don’t work on.  Those relationships often fail.  God is always working to love us.  Receive that love.  Give that love!

1 Peter 4:8  NLT

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Valentine’s Day is here.  Do something nice, something different for the one you deeply care about.  You don’t have to spend lots of money.  Prove your love with more than words and make sure your definition of love lines up with what God says!

Psalm 33:22  NLT

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.