What Love Is

It's Valentine's Day, and love is back on display. When we observe the world around us, we see the secular definitions of love. When we read the Scriptures, however, we see that mankind's definition doesn't even compare to what God describes as love. Indeed, the Bible speaks very clearly about the meaning of real love, and we are to love one another not only as we love ourselves, but also as He has loved us (Matthew 22:39, John 15:12). Since we are commanded to love, we ought to be clear what is expected of us. I Corinthians 13 is often referred to as "The Love Chapter" because it unmistakably describes what love is ...and isn't, too.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

When we examine what love is, as well as the reciprocal of what it isn't, we see that the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit - joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - is woven throughout the passage and are all used as part of the description for the first fruit in Galatians 5:22-23: love.

For such an endeavor, there's no one better to look to for an example of such unconditional love than Jesus Christ. Jesus had one purpose in mind when He came to earth, and He wouldn't return Home until it was complete. His purpose was to provide the sole means of redemption for mankind, and that could only be accomplished through the shedding of His blood. He came even though He knew how great His suffering would be, and He came because of love. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Through Jesus' finished work of the cross, God offers everyone salvation. It took His death on the cross to pay the price for our sin and His resurrection from the grave to conquer death. Jesus Christ is God's valentine to you.

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." I Corinthians 13:13

Happy Valentine's Day!