Love is probably one of the hardest words to define because it can be described and showed in so many different ways. With love languages, and expressions and the hesitation to say “I love you” to someone you know you love. Love is serious, it’s not always taken seriously, but it is a very serious thing.
We struggle so much to define the word love and we often look for it in places where it is not. I think that we have all had experiences where we felt love for the first time, like really felt and understood it, as well as knowing what its like to love for the first. I must say that it's a truly beautiful feeling. We can live our whole lives thinking we know what love is and in a minute the definition is completely changed, because somewhere along the way we have an experience that either shows us this is what it looks like to be loved or shows us what its like to love. However it’s very hard to put into words, or at least that’s what I thought. I found the definition of love without even knowing I was looking for it, and it came through reading the word of God. I came across 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
This is love, if we are looking to put it into words here it is. Not only does God show us what love is, and what it looks like, He explains it to us. In plain terms there are no metaphors or riddles to figure it out. It’s straightforward. God defines love for us, and it’s beautiful.
The most beautiful thing about it is God is describing himself. 1 John 4:8, Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. To know love is to know God. When Paul writes about love He is describing the very characteristics of God. If we live our lives to serve God and if God is in us, these are the characteristics that we must also inhabit.
Not only does God show us what love is, He shows us how to love. Being patient and kind. Not being jealous of anyone or anything or prideful and boasting. My favorite is, “keeping no record of being wronged”. Love is forgiveness. Love is the ability to let go and move on. Probably the hardest characteristic of love, because many of us have been hurt by people who say they love us. Hurt by love as we would say. I think many of us get to this mindset because we are living by man’s standard of love, not God’s. When we live by God’s standard of love, all of this will be much easier. Life is better because we cannot help but love people, we cannot help but forgive. God’s love is the best kind of love. Love does not rejoice at injustice, love fights for justice, it fights for truth. Love doesn’t give up, it doesn’t lose faith, it’s hopeful and endures. If you love something or someone, you don’t give up on it or them. You don’t give up faith or hope. Love keeps you going, it keeps you motivated. Love makes you continue to fight even when it’s hard and you feel like you have nothing left. This is how God loves us. This is how we are to love ourselves and how we are to love others.
All this to say, if you're looking for love, look to God. You won’t find it anywhere else, God is the source of love. He is love.
Response/Prayer Time
Take the time to talk to God about what it is to love and be loved. Respond in whatever way you feel led.
I love you and I hope you have an amazing day or evening! Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 212!
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