People describe love as the butterflies you get in your stomach when you see that guy walking toward you. Some people say love is an intense feeling of deep affection. And others say it is the excitement you feel when doing something you enjoy.
I believe we, as Christians, find the best definition of love at the foot of Jesus' cross. By studying Jesus' love, we find some necessary components that make up this complex thing called love.
Love requires want
No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. John 10:18
Jesus's death was not "divine child abuse." Jesus desired to do the will of the Father (Is. 53:10, Jn.63:8). He died for the joy set before Him. Love is not loving if it is forced. We willingly love others because Jesus willingly loved us.
Love requires sacrifice
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant. Philippians 2:4-6Love requires that we give up something of our own, whether it be our time, our resources, our money, our pride, our patience, our comfort, or our security. In Jesus' case, he gave us his entire life. Love is choosing to give even when we don't feel like it, even when we don't want to, and even when we want to stop.
Love does not require anything in return
God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5We will never be able to pay Jesus back for the love He extends to us. He chose to save us while we were empty, poor, and dirty. And now that we have the riches of Christ as righteous friends of God, Jesus continues to save us, even though we are still unable to repay him. Jesus' love toward us is a free gift. Love freely shares Christ's love with others, not demanding or expecting anything in return because we know we did not earn that love to begin with.
Love does not require a deserving recipient
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8We consider others deserving or undeserving of our love based on things they can control, like their actions, and on things they cannot control, such as their appearance, personality, or preferences. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners, enemies of God. So, because Jesus' ever-abundant grace covers our ever-increasing sin, we can freely give that same grace to others. No matter who they are or what they have done.
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Looking at these definitions, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. No one loves perfectly. The freeing truth is, true love comes only from God.
God's love gives us security and hope. When we ground ourselves in this love, we can use it as a reliable, steady fountain to draw our love from. If love was based only on romantic or happy feelings, our love would constantly dry up.
Praise the Lord that our love is based on this truth: God unceasingly and unconditionally loves us. We have the greatest, purest love. This promise gives us the strength to unceasingly and unconditionally love others.
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