14th February is a day when we celebrate love. We often define love by an experience or a feeling. We tend to think more about what love is rather than what love does.
I wonder how many people define love by who God is? In 1 John 4, we read, beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love, does not know God because God is love.
God defines love by who he is. In contrast to our culture, the Bible is more concerned with what love does rather than what love is. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). God gave his son to the world and for the world. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all (Romans 8:32).
We could sum love up in two words – Jesus Christ.
Once we know Jesus we take on a completely different understanding of what love is. We begin to think in terms of what love does rather than what love is. Love is simply being like Jesus Christ. Our love becomes self-less and other-centred. Love becomes more about serving others rather than seeking an
experience or feeling from others.
In 1st Corinthians 13 Paul helps us to see more clearly what biblical love looks like – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
God’s love is not just for one day. May we celebrate and give “true” love every day!