This Is Love...

On Valentine's Day there's a lot of talking about love.

What is love? Is it romance, flowers, and chocolate? Is it happiness when you're with someone or something that makes you feel good?

Today God reminded me of something that was written almost two thousand years ago. Perhaps people asked similar questions then. Here is the answer that John, one of Jesus' disciples, wrote:

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us..." (1 John 4:10).

Love didn't originate with man.

"...love comes from God (1 John 4:7b).

As human beings, we didn't invent love, develop it, or define it. 

"God is love... (1 John 4:16b).

God is the one who defines love, and God is the one who initiates love.

Love is an eternal reality. Love is who God is. And love is what God demonstrated to human beings.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God the Father sent His Son Jesus, who died for us, as the ultimate expression of God's love.

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." -1 John 4:10

This is love - God loving us.

Any love that we have for God, is but an echo of His love for us.
Any love we demonstrate to others, is but an outflow of the love God has poured into us.
Any love we receive from others, is but an expression of God's love to us through them.

These truths about God fill me with awe! And they give me a different perspective on love.

Love isn't something I "fall into" or "fall out of."
Love isn't something I have to somehow muster up from within myself for others.
Love isn't something that comes and goes based on various factors.

Love is real and it is powerful, because love comes from God who is eternal, all-powerful, and good.

God's love is infinite - it has no limit. How do we fathom that? I can't. But I rejoice that God's love for me and for you will never end! Not only that, but God can express His love through me and through you, to me and to you, in infinite ways. Hallelujah!

Yes, love is certainly worth talking about, not just on Valentine's Day but every day.

Our awesome God, thank you that you first loved us! Please help us to consider and talk about your love more and more. Jesus, please fill us with your love, and empower us to give and receive your love by faith.  

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 John 4:16a).