Love is the most common theme in popular songs and movies. Audiences are bombarded with examples of worldly love, which typically includes physical symptoms and desires, and emotional attachment. The consensus is that love is a feeling."Falling in love" is a common saying to express the initial "butterflies" associated with new love, but love is not an accident or trap that you happen to fall into.True,Biblical love is defined differently: Love is a choice!
More specifically, love is a conscious choice to take action: to overlook faults, to forgive, and to sacrifice for the good of the one you claim to love.
1 Corinthians chapter 13 (aka "The Love Chapter") verses 4 through 7 outlines not only what love is, but also who God is: "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."
God models love perfectly for us to follow. As givers and receivers of love, we have this scripture as a standard to measure love. If it isn't 1 Corinthians 13, then it isn't love!
There are no conditions in true love. Love isn't always pretty and sweet, but it is real. God Himself loves us despite our mistakes."But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8). In fact, He knows everything we've done and will do, yet still chooses to love and pursue us.
God's love can be overwhelming because it goes against what we were taught. Regardless of what we say or do, His love won't leave us. Nothing we do can make Him love us more or less. It is truly unconditional.All that is required is that we accept and share it!
"And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." - Ephesians 3:18-19
Written by Ashley R. (Flourishing Faith Ministries - Editor)