Posts
Friday, February 12
What is love? Is it definable?
Is it a feeling? A passion? Something romantic?
The dictionary defines love as a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection for a parent, child, or friend, sexual desire, affectionate concern for the well-being of others, the benevolent affection of God for His creatures or the reverent affection due from them to God.
Passions and feelings can be fickle; they can change. So, where do you look for an unfickle love…
* in a bar
* in a friend
* in a marriage
* in a father or mother
* in a boyfriend or girlfriend?
Is it found…
* in status
* in things
* in money
* in a career
* in notoriety
* in possessions
* in power or position?
If you’re looking for love in the people or things in the above lists, you’re looking in all the wrong places. You must first look inward. If you have no love within you, you will not be able to give love to another.
Let’s see if we can answer…
* Do you look for that perfect someone to love?
* Do you yearn for that special love, the kind of love that believes in you, nurtures you, encourages you, supports you, comforts you, is always there for you?
* Does this elusive, unchanging, lasting, forever-kind-of-love exist?
The answers are the same. So, where is the best place to find the answer? In the Bible! This love comes in the person of Jesus Christ.
You love yourself and others, you find that perfect love, when you give your heart to Jesus. He loves you. Have you loved Him back? The disciple John wrote in one of his letters, “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NKJV)
You have been loved with an everlasting, all-sacrificing, all-forgiving, unconditional, perfect love. You are beloved. Cherished. To die for. Jesus says to you, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16a NKJV)
You are the one He loves; He gave His life for you. “This is My body which is given for you.” (Luke 22:19 NKJV)
The apostle Paul wrote, “Long before [God] laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love,” (Eph. 1:4a Msg) and “[In His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ.” (Eph. 1:4a Amp)
When you know this kind of precious love, you will begin to truly love yourself and others. Your love life will be in order.
So, what or whom do you love? If I asked you to answer, without thinking, what you love the most, what would be your immediate response? Your boyfriend or girlfriend, your spouse, your children, your car, your bank account, your physical appearance, your iPod, your cell phone?
Jesus asks you, “Do you love Me more than these others?” (John 21:15 TLB)
“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” (1 John 4:16-17a NLT)
May you know the perfect, Valentine Love!
Beautiful Lynn! He IS love :-)
Good words, Lynn. I love the sentence,"You have been loved with an everlasting, all-sacrificing, all-forgiving, unconditional, perfect love." What a great thought on which to start my day. Thanks!
Perfect Valentine!
I just finished a post for next month at The marriage Channel at Exemplify Online about loving Jesus more than my husband.
It's the only way to live!
He never lets us down! Wonderful post, Nancy. I'll post my Valentine story tomorrow. :) I might do like you and pose a challenge, too.I was trying to figure out what and when to donate to Haiti.
Hey, sweet Lorrie! Thank you!
Susan, Thanks so much for your kind words. I appreciate your stopping by and commenting! Bless you!
HisFireFly, Thanks, sweetie! And I loved your post. Be blessed!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Ane. I'm honored to have you visit. And I hope you'll start that challenge! Blessings to you!
Lynn, This article may be one of the simplest most beautiful pieces you have written. I doubt I am the only one who spent half his/her life "looking for love in all the wrong places"; that is NOT from within or coming from God. As simple as that message is, it is amazing to me how complex we humans often try to make that. It is so simple; almost like Robert Folghum's "Everything I Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarten". Simply love yourself and love others and love God. We learned it long ago. It is important to hear it though every now and again. Love Rick and Lee
I just wanted to stop by and say Hi. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Karen
Ricky-boy, er, Anonymous, You always bless me with your comments. You make my heart very happy! Bless you for reading. Divine Valentine love to you...and sweet Lee!
Hey, sweet Karen! Thank you so much! Sending Valentine love backatcha! xoxox
Lynn,
I responded on my blog to your comment.
Take care,
Karen
Beautiful post! God is the best kind of love there will ever be. I learned this even more after reading The Shack. :)
Hey, Lynn, Good post and good idea! :)
Not to sure that I can agree with the "dictionary" definition as even coming close to what love is.
I have on my computer the 1828 Noah Websters dictionary. I like to look back to see how words were defined, well, when they still had meaning! :)
In a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification. We love a friend, on account of some qualities which give us pleasure in his society. We love a man who has done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters into the composition of our affection. We love our parents and our children, on account of their connection with us, and on account of many qualities which please us. We love to retire to a cool shade in summer. We love a warm room in winter. we love to hear an eloquent advocate. The christian loves his Bible. "In short, we love whatever gives us pleasure and delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the christian loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for favors received".
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind -
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matt. 22.
2. To have benevolence or good will for. John 3.
"and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings"
To me, a much more accurate definition! But in my own words...to love is to be selfless Anything less...is selfish. How can one love when self is the center of it all!!!
Just IMHO...no biggie :)
Blessings, Bro Jer
Thanks so much, anglesteph! I appreciate your taking time to stop by and comment. Blessings to you!
Hey, Jerry! You know, I have an old dictionary and I totally forgot to look at it. Darn! Wish the new ones were like the old ones! I deeply appreciate your wonderful comment. Thank you so much! Be blessed!
When all others fail, when all others hurt us..God is always there. Love how He approaches us from a position of love. Truly comforting.
Great post,Lynn. Thanks for sharing!
The love of God is so pure and perfect - the more I get to know His love the more it amazes and I realize just how contrary it is to the love that comes from our flesh which really isn't love at all.
Rachel