The Million Dollar Question: What is love?

In the Bible and in the world there are a lot of references to the word "love".

At weddings we often hear:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

In Sunday School we teach that:

"God is love."-1 John 4:8 (NIV)

We've all heard the golden rule:

"do to others what you would have them do to you"-Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

Love is a word we use a lot in society. Just a few weeks ago, I had a family member pass away unexpectedly and have noticed myself telling people, "I love you" more often than usual. But what does this really mean? Am I just spitting out empty words? Am I only saying these words out of fear?

This all brings me to the big question; What is love?

As Easter approaches, I've been thinking quite a bit about the sacrifice Christ made for us sinners when he took it upon himself to die on that cross in order to save us. I read over and over again "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."-John 15:13 (NIV) Now don't get me wrong, I'm not requesting that you physically sacrifice yourself for someone else as Christ did for His people. But perhaps to sacrifice yourself in other ways, after all that's what this season of lent is all about, right? Sacrificing something in order to draw near to God.

Sacrifice can come in many different forms. Maybe for you this might mean setting technology aside to sit down and have a real, meaningful conversation with someone face-to-face. Or maybe it means sacrificing a few minutes of your day to call your parents, grandparents, or other relatives you haven't seen in awhile. Maybe this means taking the time to write a letter of appreciation to someone who has been a mentor to you. Perhaps this just means sending a text of encouragement to a friend.

Whatever you find best fitting, do it! Do not allow your words to be empty, but let them be backed up by what you do. After all, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. In this week leading up to Easter remember to love one another, just as Christ first loved you.

Do not love with just any kind of love, but with an agape type love. Love which is far-reaching, self-sacrificing, and unconditional. The same love which lead Jesus Christ to suffer on the cross in order to purchase our salvation. While other types of love are based upon feelings, agape is a choice! Agape type love is a decision to love knowing that every person is priceless in God's eyes. It is a way of allowing God to love others through you and to use you to be "a light to the nations" just as Christ was.

I hope you really ponder this question for yourself; what is love? Pray, asking The Lord to open you up to hear from Him and you might just be amazed at what He chooses to reveal to you. I wish you all many blessings and much peace as we near the end of this Lenten season and enter into Easter.