What is LOVE?

What is Love?

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8

Webster’s dictionary has nine different variations of its definition of love.   The first definition states that love is a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties maternal love for a child”.   I am reminded of Isaiah 66:13 in which the Lord says, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” It also defines love as an “assurance of affection”, “a beloved person”, “unselfish and benevolent care for the good of another” and gives examples such as (1) the fatherly concern of God for humankind; (2): brotherly concern for others.” 

I say love is defined in one name, JESUS! 

He came down to us, left paradise to live in a broken world, where He would be mocked, slandered, spit on.  He was beaten beyond recognition and then was brutally murdered on a cross to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him.  The ultimate act of love on display for everyone in Jerusalem to see, for the entire world to remember and know that we are loved beyond measure. 

His love crossed, and continues to cross, borders, cultures, nations and languages.  He continues to live, redeem and set captives free through His Spirit, His Word and His church.  He comes to those who call upon His name and will answer and hear even while the words are still being spoken (Isaiah 65:24).  He lifts and mends the broken heart and breaks strongholds.  He gives hope when all seems or is lost.  He gives strength when we are weak, makes a way where there is none, brings light to the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5).  For whom? All for those who believe, accept Him and turn.

Jesus is the unrivaled, inexhaustible, irrefutable, perfect manifestation of LOVE.  We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).  From the words He spoke, the acts of service in life, to the laying down of it in a gruesome, brutal death, Christ breathed and, to his last, exhaled nothing but pure, unblemished, holy love for each and every one of us. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).  

Among many injustices, here’s a list of what He went through for us: ( taken from Matthew 26)

• Judas betrayed Him
• Peter abandoned Him
• They seized and arrested Him
• They spit on Him and struck Him
• They dressed Him in a robe and pressed a crown of thorns on His head only to mock Him
• They spit on Him again and struck Him
• They stripped Him naked
• Simon of Cyrene helped Him
• They crucified Him
• They divided His garments
• Father Almighty forsook Him
• HE DIED
• They sealed Him in a dark tomb, left for dead
• They kept watch over Him BUT….

HE ROSE!

HE CONQUERED!

DEFEATED THE GRIP OF SIN AND DEATH!

ONCE FOR ALL!  And He did it all…

ALL FOR LOVE!

Jesus died for each one of us. Not because we deserved it.  We could never earn it. It is a gift.  Yours is only to receive it. Not because we suddenly became worthy or stopped sinning but because He loves us. Remember, God showed His love for us that even while we were still sinning, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  

Friend, what you have done or are still doing does not change His love for you. It did not keep Him from the cross then and it does not keep Him from loving you now. 

How do we respond to such an act, to the ultimate sacrifice?  How do we respond to a love like this? 

Even if it was just for one of us, Jesus would do it all over again without hesitation.  When He did, it was “once for all time” (Heb.7:27; 9:12, 28; 10:2, 10). Now, we could be forgiven, come into the kingdom and share it with Him.  Even as we sojourners on this earth, because of His great sacrifice and our faith, we can experience some of that eternal life here as we wait for His return for us.

I can only speak for myself but as Romans 12:1 so aptly puts it I will pour out my life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is my spiritual worship and live holy as my Father is holy (1 Peter 1:15).

Whatever He asks I will do, no matter what I have to sacrifice, no matter what I have to endure, His Will be done. If I am ostracized, if I am mocked, if I am in the end standing all alone,  I will do it because I KNOW Jesus stands with me.  I refuse to be moved, dissuaded or disobedient for He has paid it all for me. I hope and pray that whatever He should ask of me, or takeaway, or send me,  I will have the holy courage and strength to obey.  He is worthy and worth it all!

My heart for all of us in Paul’s words:: 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

I encourage you not to just give Jesus a try, not to just give Jesus some of your time, not to just to make room for Him but to give yourself to Him as He gave Himself up for you.  Trust me, you have not known love, true, unconditional love, until you allow Him to love you and you love Him in return.  Nothing will ever be the same again. It will be the best, if not the most important, decision of your life! 

Oh Friend, He’s waiting, just for you! 

True love is waiting, and His name is JESUS!