It means different things to different people. The two teenagers think it is one thing. The young mother thinks quite differently about it. The brokenhearted has a unique perspective on love. A couple celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary have a much different point of view. To the priest it is something entirely different altogether.
In the Bible the Greek word used for love is agape. Agape is a verb. It is not something we feel. It is something we do whether we feel like doing it or not. A biblical view of love is not something like: “I am in love with him.” It is more: “I love him.” On the cross Jesus wasn’t thinking, “I’m in love with that person.” But he was able to say, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
It means everything when we begin to understand that love is something we do. We love people we feel like loving and we love people we don’t feel like loving. Biblical love has nothing to do with the other person. It has only to do with our own character and integrity. Consider our Lord on the cross: There is no greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.
When asked what the most important thing in the world was: Jesus said it was to love God, love others, and have a healthy love of self. Paul tells us what love is and what it’s not:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Jesus says the world will know that we are his disciples by our love. My dream for our church is simple: that we are lovers of God and lovers of people. It is the thing that we do. We invite others, we care for others, we pray for others, we serve others, we give to others, we forgive others, we encourage others, and on and on and on. We are a blessing and we are blessed because we love.
God’s gift of love through Jesus has changed the world and can change your world. God gives and continues to give. Open the gift. Embrace it. Share it.
The best is yet to come…
Craig
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