What Love Is

We can sure get a lot of funny ideas about love. Many see love as a feeling; some see love as a choice. Some think it is something that happens to you, over which you have no control.

How can we really know what love is? By reading God’s Word.

Philippians 1.9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment

Do you see that? We must have knowledge of what love is. We can’t know love unless we make an effort to learn it, and we can only learn the truth from God. Then, we must make a judgment call, according to His Word, as to our actions in loving.

If we have learned about love from other sources than God, then we open ourselves to believing lies. And, once we learn the Truth of love from God, that Truth may suggest that we must give up some of the things we have learned to love.

Our flesh can make some really strong attachments. If we love something that God says is wrong, we must make a decision:

1. Do we obey God and give up the sin (sin = loving something that is not God or of God), and hold on to Jesus as we endure the pain of a “love” ripped away. The apostle Paul did that; he gave up everything: Philippians 3.8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Will you learn to consider all that is not Christ to be dung, confess it, and allow God to take it away?
2. Do we turn away from God, and reject Him because He doesn’t line up with what we want?

What does God say about love?

God is love (1 John 4.16). He has loved us with an everlasting love, and has drawn us to Him with everlasting kindness (Jeremiah 31.3).

God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, that we may have eternal life. (John 3.16)

Love is patient and kind, and does not envy; does not boast or puff itself up; it does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, and keeps no account of wrongs. It rejoices in hope. (1 Corinthians 13)

Most of all, our love belongs to God.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12.20)

How do we know if we love God first? If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14.15)

If we read God’s Word, then we learn what love is, how to love, and what to love. We also learn what to run away from, what to avoid, and what to put to death.

“Love wins” has become a popular mantra. It is a true statement because God is love (1 John 4.16), He is in control, and He will always be victorious. But, as with everything else, human flesh can twist this around to our evil desires.

“Love yourself” and “Follow your heart” are often heard. This, too, has been twisted to evil desires. We are to love God first, and recognize that our hearts are “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;” (Jeremiah 17.9); that we are dissolved in our own sin daily. See what Romans 3.10-18 says about us:

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes

The lesson here is that we absolutely cannot trust ourselves / our minds / our hearts to know what the truth is, nor what love is.

When we learn, know, and understand God’s Truth, then we know we must rely only upon God’s Word.

If God says something is wrong or evil, or an abomination, then it is, period. (Leviticus 20, for example, lists several abominations that current culture accepts.)

If you are in authority over others, pay close attention. (Check the Bible to see if you are an authority: for example, pastor, teacher, boss, parent, grandparent, civil leader – some people are in authority, but refuse to exercise that authority, or exercise it improperly.) Read the Bible to learn how to be a Godly authority. Do not allow those under your protection to defy God’s ways, to wander astray, to learn and follow falsities. God placed you in that position for the benefit of those under you. Don’t let them down: be courageous and obedient to God. Chastening and discipline must be done in love. (Hebrews 12.4 – 11; Ephesians 6.1 – 9; Colossians 3.21, 22)

With an obedient and submissive heart toward God, invite God’s presence, and ask the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself.

To conclude: do not allow popular opinion to masquerade as truth. The Real Truth is found in the Bible. Follow God and His ways to live in peace with Him. We have no need to apologize for doing so, only open confession that we love Him above all else, and wish to please Him alone. This can be difficult for those who wish to please others, who want to be popular and well-liked. Again, … be strong and courageous; Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1.9). God’s presence and strength with us, and the ensuing, intimate, everlasting peace that comes with obedience, is worth more than anything the world can offer.

Related posts: Pick Up Your Cross, Lost Loves, Holding It Together