Love

Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t know what love is? I once saw a movie in which a character maintained love was just an emotion, but that was fiction. I have experienced unselfish love by those who are simply loving people and it is amazing. The Bible teaches that God is love and its true as love has a transcendent nature. The love of God is all around, but easily taken for granted. The apostle John writes extensively about love and refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved”. (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:20) The Bible is a message of God’s love for all mankind, including the life, death and resurrection of Yeshua, Messiah, (Jesus’ Hebrew name). Perhaps the most unique and salient teaching in all human history is summed up by Yeshua saying and demonstrating, “love your enemies”. (Matt. 5:44) 

Of course, we use “love” for brotherly friendship and erotic affection as well as God’s unconditional, unmerited, unselfish love. The greeks had three separate words for each meaning. To be a follower of Yeshua is to know and practice love, even though it is a life long pursuit. The scripture’s description of love is renowned and beautiful. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails….” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

I cannot say that I have excelled in loving as I should, but I know it is imperative. My faith is in God who says, ”And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) I have great confidence in the Holy Spirit’s ability to accomplish in and through me God’s will with love. All the love songs and love stories and romantic acts of mankind are nothing apart from God. Love is the most powerful thing in heaven and earth, but just as God is invisible, His love can go unseen and unrecognized. “Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mark 9:41) ”“…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40) “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.” (1 John 2:10) Love is our goal and signature as Yeshua’s followers.