There are lots of opinions and definitions of what real love is. From my vantage point, though, the only opinion I care about is God’s opinion. And the only reliable way to know what God’s opinion is through His word, the Bible. I hope you won’t be surprised when I tell you that the Bible is really the only source we need. It has a lot to say about love. The verse most people are familiar with is found in 1 Corinthians.
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
This is one of the good definitions of love in the Bible but there’s more to love than just being patient and kind and all the rest. What this verse hints at but doesn’t explicitly say is spelled out in more direct terms in other parts of the Bible. Love is not a feeling. Love isn’t even an action. Love is an ongoing series of actions. It is a daily, even hourly commitment. In the Old Testament, we learn a lot about God’s unfailing love for us, even when we fail Him.
“Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord.
Isaiah 54:10
They refused to listen and did not remember Your wonders You performed among them. They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in faithful love, and You did not abandon them.
Nehemiah 9:17
I could list many more verses about how God loves, His patience, His faithfulness but I’ll save those for other posts.
Love is not a transaction. It’s not 50-50. Love, real love, is giving with no expectation of getting anything in return. That is what God offers to anyone who would receive Him. God demonstrates His love for us in the person of Jesus Christ.
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Romans 5:8
Is there any greater love than that? He died for you while you were still a sinner. You had done nothing for Him. And really, what can you do for Him? He doesn’t need anything. God is sufficient unto Himself. He loves us because that is His nature. Not because we deserve it, not because He needs us. He loves us because that is who He is. Ideally, we will respond to that love with faith, gratitude, and obedience, but He doesn’t wait for us to do that. He loves us before we ever do anything. He loves you right now.
If you already belong to His family through faith in Jesus Christ, great! We’ll talk more in other posts about ways you can show your love and gratitude. But if you haven’t yet received His gift of love, I pray that you will. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Here are some truths to consider:
1. Everyone is a sinner in need of salvation. At some point in your life, you have lied, stolen, been envious, been unforgiving, hurt someone, or committed some other act that has put distance between you and God.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
2. Sin separates us from God and the penalty for sin is death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 6:23
3. God provided the way for us to be saved.
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Romans 5:8
4. To accept the gift of salvation, you need to respond.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Romans 10:9-10
5. Placing your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation equals peace with God. He forgives your sins.
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:1
Pray. Ask forgiveness for whatever you have done that has separated you from the Lord. He will forgive you. Jesus died for you and rose from the grave on the third day, conquering death. Believe and you will be saved.
Then, seek someone to talk to about it. Find a Bible-based church or a Christian friend and tell them about it.
Remember, you are loved.
a surrendered life 