What is Love?

As I wrote this title I immediately could here my dad’s voice singing, “What is love? Baby don’t hurt me…”, in my head. But seriously, what is love?

Biblically, love is more than just a feeling, it is a choice. We must choose to love our neighbor as ourself, even if they aren’t on “our side”. Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan could not have been a better example of what real love looks like. With all the hate that is being spread right now in the U.S., we as believers need to take a hard look at this reminder Jesus has given us, and choose to love, with a sacrificial love, those who oppose us. Samaritan’s were hated by Jews. I think it’s safe to say we all would rather walk past someone in need of help who HATES us. But that’s the world’s idea of love. Giving of yourself only when it will benefit you in return. That kind of love doesn’t earn you any crowns in eternity. That kind of love won’t fill you up and give you joy unending. If God Himself loved by the worlds’ standards, we wouldn’t be a forgiven, redeemed, and chosen people. He loves with a love that is incomprehensible. Unimaginable. Too vast and wide and deep for us to understand. So often I get caught up in all the other fruits of the spirit, thinking I don’t need to work on love because that’s easy. When in reality, love is the one I need to work on the most. Love those who persecute you. Love those who disagree with you. Love those who shame you. Love those who ignore you. Love them, not because you might get recognition, not because it’s beneficial to you; but because Jesus loves them. And we are called to be “imitators of Christ”. So what is love really?

Love is sacrificial, love keeps no record of wrongs, love does not boast or envy, love reaches out to the outcast, love looks past the division and pain, love remains steadfast when relationships get rocky. Love is emotional intimacy. Love, is Jesus in disguise.