It’s February, and love is a common word you hear during this month. It’s all over TV, Social Media and brought up in conversation because February brings us Valentine's Day. Love can be a sensitive topic for many of us, but I’m here to change your mind! Love is more than just the gimmicky candy, cards, stuffed animals, and even special dates! It has such an important and spiritual meaning.
In The Bible, love is the most used word. In KJV, it's mentioned 310 times. In NASV, it's mentioned 348 times. In NIV, it's mentioned 551 times, and in NLT, it's mentioned 898 times, to name a few. Love is the most used word in the Bible because of its significance! GOD IS LOVE! Yes, God’s love is not only the greatest love, but He is love. Let me explain. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. Here, you’ll find every characteristic of what love is and isn’t.
“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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
After reading this, notice that if you put “God” in place of everywhere it says “love,” you will find the characteristics of God! Shout out to the devotional we read in Soul Sisters for bringing this to my attention! Something you should notice from reading like this is that love is God’s core characteristic. In Galatians 5:22-23, each piece of the fruit of the spirit can relate back to the first one listed, love. Love is everything God is and does, right down to sending Jesus to save us! Love is one of the first and most important laws and commandments because, as I said, God is love!
So, what does love really mean? It means to be kind, patient, truthful, protective, trustworthy, hopeful, endure, and above all, never fails. True love can never be bought but is given to us by Christ! To love like Christ is to accept that not everyone is perfect, but you love them for their mistakes. It means to be their biggest cheerleader and protector. In short, everything God is! It’s not lustful, prideful, or angry. I always remind myself that “love never fails,” so if it fails, it isn’t love!
No matter what season of life you may be in (single, dating, married, etc.), we are all loved by the One. There is absolutely no greater love that you can receive than from God! GOD IS LOVE!
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