When you think of love, what images come to mind? Do you think of couples that moved you in the movies, perhaps something like Jack and Rose in Titanic? Passionate stories about love are widespread in all of the media we consume. People can’t get enough of these stories!
Why is that? It’s because the kind of love these stories promote is often inflated, unrealistic, and only part of the real picture. Your favorite TV show or movie only shows the flashiest, most exciting parts of “love” and turns it up to 100 in order to get your attention.
Sadly, we’ve been consuming such media for so long that it has distorted our understanding of what love truly is. Love is so much more, and substantially more beautiful, than what we see on our screens. Love is bigger, better, and undeniably life-changing.
The true definition of love stems from God’s very character. After all, the Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Anything we see in God’s Word that tells us about God’s character also describes to us what love is truly all about. The greatest of these is Jesus’ sacrificial act of love on the cross that brings us salvation.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us some inspiring and critical attributes of love:
“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.”
Notice the common thread that runs throughout all of these traits? They are all things that are true of God as well! If you need to know if something is truly worthy of the mantle of “love,” all you must do is measure it up against the standard of 1 Corinthians 13. If it stands the test, it is true, godly love.
This Valentine’s Day, it’s great to celebrate love as we do. But let’s also make it a time that we broaden our understanding of what love truly is and how much of a gift it is from God Himself
You can write the Pastor at pastorbilly@findtruelife.com