When you think about love in its purest form–unconditional, lavish, sacrificial, and unrestrained–what comes to mind? Can we even picture what perfect love looks like?
Sadly, we’ve been taught a wrong definition of love most of our lives. Usually it’s conditional, based upon our actions or decisions. Or, it’s corrupted as a wounded person tries hard to share their version of love. Then there’s the media, with movies and television often portraying “love” purely as a physical experience.
What would pure love look like to you?
Immediately, I think of 1 Corinthians 13, also known as the Bible’s love chapter. Verses 4 and 5 provide a descriptive list of what love is:
- Love is patient
- Love is kind.
- Love does not envy.
- Love does not boast.
- Love is not proud.
- Love is not rude
- Love is not self-seeking
- Love is not easily angered
- Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Now that’s pure love! Next time you’re in a situation where you’re given an opportunity to love someone, ask yourself, How can I be patient and kind with this person? How can I avoid being prideful, self-seeking or rude? How can love them sacrificially?
It may be hard to love someone like that in our own strength. That’s when we need to call upon God for his strength and wisdom, because God is love. He can show us how to love others like he loves us.
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God–for God is love” 1 John 4:7, 8.
Everything God does, he does in love. Every decision he makes, every thought he has, every action he takes is rooted in love. God does nothing in your life unless it’s based in love. The only language God speaks is love. When you “hear” God speak into your life, it’s always words of unconditional love. It’s going to sound like words from 1 Corinthians 13 above.
You may say, “Father, I really messed up this weekend and I am so sorry for my mistakes.”
God says, “I keep no record of wrongs.“
You may say, “I keep struggling with this issue in my life.”
God says, “I’m patient. I’ll work with you.“
Ask God to show you how much he loves you. Listen carefully to his still, small voice and remember that God is love.
Prayer: “Father, help me to see just how much you love me. Show me your love in a very special and unique way this week.”