Love, we all seem to know what that is. But still I wonder. Do we really know the exact definition? What is the love of God? One of the greatest command in the Bible is to love your neighbor as yourself. What does God actually mean by that?
Bible verses
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:12 NKJV
But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. – Luke 6:27-36 NKJV
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16 NKJV
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. – Ephesians 5:25 NKJV
Christ teaches us to not only love our friends and family. That’s easy. Anybody can do that as it comes naturally. Christ teaches us to also love our enemies. To do good to those who can’t give us anything in return. With this message Christ teaches us that love is a choice.
Love is an act, not an emotion
It has nothing to do with our emotions. Same goes for the love in your marriage and for your children. If you don’t put in any labour, if you don’t make any effort. It in itself will never be able to work.
Christ didn’t came to earth, gave us a kiss on our forehead and went back to heaven. No, He came to be a servant. By serving He showed us how to act. He was a living sacrifice. He has given us many examples on this subject. Non of these examples had anything to do with feeling butterflies in our stomach. They all had one thing in common and that was putting someone else’s needs before our own. If everybody in this world had such a love, we would have a lot less violence, divorces or stress. We would help each other out, the best way we possibly can. If we would follow-up on the emotions that come along with the hateful comments that come from the mouth of our enemies. We would be unable to show love. We would focus all our attention on anger and revenge. But Christ teaches us not to give in to these emotions. He teaches us to choose love. Not just for those who love us but also for those who hate us or for those we don’t even know.
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:14 NKJV
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:19-26