When I was just a boy, my dad asked me a mind blowing question; he asked me, “What is love?” I defined it the only way I could at that age – by how I had experienced it; I replied, “Love is caring for a friend.”
Love is a lot of things but in my mind before it’s anything else it is a verb, in other words, it is the act of a person or persons which evokes an intellectual, emotional and sometimes sentimental response from the recipient(s).
The Bible says that love is patient and kind; it bears, believes, hopes and endures all things and is never failing; that is, in part what Paul said about it in (1Corinthians 13:4-8). It bears with people, believes the the best about them, hopes the best for them and NEVER gives up on them.
The Apostle Peter added in (1Peter 4:8) that love covers:
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “’love will cover a multitude of sins.'”
Love won’t make public another persons sin by way of gossip or conversation rather it comes alongside and restores the errant brother or sister (Galatians 6:1); it believes, bears, covers and one more thing…it speaks truth. That’s actually how the church is grown and strengthened, by “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)
In other words, loving people tell the truth, even critical and perhaps even controversial, unpopular and maybe even unwelcome truth… love tells the truth for the good of the other person. It doesn’t tolerate, overlook or otherwise accept and validate falsehood or sinfulness it lovingly confronts it.
Love is a command. Jesus said in (John 13:34) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (see also John 15:12, 15:17)
The Bible says that love is not only the only debt we ought to owe anyone (Romans 13:8) but that it is also a fulfillment of the law in the same verse.
Let me leave you with a thought from Josh McDowell:
“Tolerance says, “You must approve of what I do.” Love responds, “I must do something harder: I will love you, even when your behavior offends me.”
Tolerance says, “You must agree with me.” Love responds, “I must do something harder: I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced the truth will set you free.’ ”
Tolerance says, “You must allow me to have my way.” Love responds, “I must do something harder: I will plead with you to follow the right way, because I believe you are worth the risk.”
So love your neighbor, brother, the one who loves you and the one who doesn’t; love your friends and your enemies… love acts ~ love does the harder thing.
You must be logged in to post a comment.