What is LOVE?

Love is complicated. It is an emotion, and it is an act of the will. It can be a verb and a noun. It touches everyone, but not everyone is in it. You can’t always feel it, but you still know it’s there.

Love has become the code word for any number of things. It can mean acceptance, forgiveness, always being kind, not being mean, tolerating someone, telling someone the truth, and a whole host of other activities.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love
—and the greatest of these is love. 

– 1 Cor 13:13

What did Jesus mean when He said “love the Lord your God,” or “love your neighbor,” or “love your enemy”? It is important to understand that there are different words for love in the original language of the New Testament.

 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, 

which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

— Col 3:14

We will look at four—phileo, eros, storge and agape. Eros would be reserved for particular relationships, but if you look at phileo, storge, and agape, you get a clearer picture of what Jesus was talking about.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.
Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Love each other with genuine affection,
Greet with brotherly love. and take delight
in honoring each other. — Romans 12: 9-10

Love looks like all those. Love looks like being the type of person who is willing to share this kind of love with those around them, regardless of their worth.

Questions for thoughts:

· What keeps you from loving others?

· What is one thing you can do to show someone you love them TODAY?

· What is one thing you can practice to help you experience the love God has for you?