Love. It’s a beautiful word isn’t it? We all hope for it, we desire it, we seek it. We need love in our lives. Unfortunately we have used that word in so many different contexts that its meaning has been diffused and the implications have been misunderstood. We use it to describe things or activities we like…I love cheeseburger pizza, or I love watching Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star. We express love and devotion to our pets, to our friends, family, our children, grandchildren and spouses…and we tell God that we love Him as well.
So, is love just an expression of what we like and identify with in our lives? I like pizza, movies, Fido, my kids and God. Obviously its deeper than that, yet at times we can treat those we love with an unhealthy attitude of “Are you fulfilling my expectation and need for love?” If this attitude defines our understanding of love it will lead to unfulfilled relationships in the home between parent and child, and spouses. If allowed to grow it will eventually lead to frustration, entitlement, resentment and can even lead to separation, divorce and fractured family relationships.
If we look at God’s definition of love for us, Agape, it is self-less, unmerited, and unconditional, steadfast, and enduring. Much can be said of God’s love, and I think we can only grasp a thread of the depth of God’s love for us. If we begin to understand God’s definition of love it helps us redefine love and redirect our thoughts and actions toward those we say we love. God fulfills our need for love, and we can be an expression of His love toward others.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
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