WHAT IS LOVE AND WHAT LOVE ISN'T

At some point in my life I didn't understand what love was fully, I thought love was mere emotion. But I got to a place in my life that I understood God's definition of love. Love is a whole lot, it requires action and intentionality. Love is beyond the words we speak, it's what we do.

Today I'll be talking about what I think love is and what love isn't and with scriptural references. So sit back, relax, grab a cup of coffee,  read and learn. Thank you.

Love is expressed differently to different people or things, the love for my family is way different from the love for my dog, yes an imaginary one😂 Love is explained in the bible and it's how God expects us to express love. Love involves sacrifice. Showing it even though you don't feel like it, and even though you know you might not get the love reciprocated.

For example God's love towards us was seen when He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. It was a kind of love that is beyond, a love He chose to do. A love that involved so much sacrifice. Love is beyond words, action is important. Yessss we've to intentionally choose to love people, because at times we might not even see reasons to love but it's expected of us by God to love. It's God's greatest commandment to us.

The Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; explains what love is and what it isn't.

"Love is patient and kind" Love exercises patience.
"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." Love helps in forgiveness too.
"It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out" When you love someone,  you try to correct them when they're wrong, and help them understand the truth.
"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance"

I think this scripture in plain terms explains what love is and what love isn't.

Another beautiful scripture that explains what it means to genuinely love is John 3:16; "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life"

This scripture shows how a father loves His children even though they don't show Him love back. God loved us first and He expects us to reciprocate His love. The scripture shows the sacrifice a father did for His children.

God's greatest commandment is us loving God and loving others. In loving God we're to obey His commandment, that's our expression of love to Him.

We express our love to God in different ways; by obeying the voice of the Holyspirit and by practicing what we're learning from his word. 

According to James 1:22-25;
"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it" 

God expects us not just to learn or study His word, but to practice His word and also that our lives should be a reflection of His word.

If we want to really express love to God then we should do what He expects of us.

To genuinely love people;

📌First you need God, He's Love. 1 john 4:7-8.Without God you can't love. Love is God's nature.

📌 Then you need the constant help of the Holyspirit because love is a fruit of the spirit. And He helps us spread God's love in our heart. Romans 5:5

📌 You've got to intentionally practice loving people even when they don't deserve it. You've got to make it a daily habit or goal to love people. 

Another way to express love is by helping people. Helping people is beyond giving them money, but you can choose to sacrifice your time and resources too and even knowledge.

WHAT LOVE ISN'T;

📌 Love isn't selfish 

📌 Love isn't jealous

📌 Love doesn't keep record of wrong instead love forgives.

📌 Love isn't proud, love is humble.

📌 Love doesn't rejoice over injustice. Love rejoices over good.

So as you go about today's work, choose to love people starting from those around. God bless you.