What is love ?

I had an interesting yet disturbing experience a few days ago. It is something that happens so often, I am sure you guys would say "what is the big deal?"

A few days, someone professed love to me. I know right, what is the big deal about that ? It's a normal thing in a world that claims it loves.

But then if you sit to think, what really is love ? To see someone with features, characters or attributes you like, and after a while, after observing and noticing them, claim you love them and would like to be with them ?

Is that really what love is all about ? What your eyes like and decide you love ?

I beg to defer. Over the last few months, I think I can say God has taught me love to a large extent.  What love really is, and  what love really should be.

Love is a decision you take, to consciously and continuously stay in love with a person. That is irrespective of what they do, or don't do.

I'll take a note from our very best teacher, God. He made a conscious effort to show His love to the world, irrespective of the sins it was surrounded in. He stayed in love with us, and even made provisions for His son, to die for us, even before we agreed to accept that sacrifice and love Him back. Now that is what I call love.

I know sometimes, understanding God, His ways and acts and then being like Him might seem difficult, but really what else could love be.

1 cor 13: 4- 8, lists various attributes of love. What it is, what it isn't, what it should be, should do, and shouldn't do. Those sentences taken one at a time, and put into practice is a simple guide of/to love.

I am human, and like you I know practicing love the God way might be difficult. But it is what He created us to be, for the best of us. Love is us consciously and constantly making a daily decision to be and stay in love. I.e irrespective of fights, distractions or any other thing that comes in between.

Christ consciously and continuously decided to love the world. When it hated him, rejected him, and even in crucifixion. He knew the end, yet he constantly prayed for the world. Christ showed love, Christ was love.

This therefore means, that love which we first exhibit towards Christ, is the pathway to exhibiting love to others. We can do this by constantly choosing to be in love with God, His word, His decisions. I.e even when we are not getting what we want, or when the enemy brings distractions our way. Love is consciousness, not blindness.

This attitude of love, then reflects in our relationships with people. By us loving them, friends or spouses from the beginning, and preparing ourselves even before we find the love/ person to love. This is seen in the way God catered for us, even before we were born into a world of sin.

Love is a big thing, love is an amazing thing, and love takes understanding. This simply implies, love isn't confined to the worlds definition of : like a girl, tell her you love her, date her. Love is bigger. Love is preparing for the long term and for the best of all. Love like the bible says, is the greatest of all.

And just in case you don't know, don't believe it, or sometimes forget, God's love for you is mega. He loves you and I sooooo much. Don't miss out on God's love, simply embrace it, and bask in the glory of his love for you.

Shalom

#note this piece doesn't capture all of what love is, its simply a tip of the iceberg.