The Label of Love

Last week, I wrote about letting love fix ‘it’ – it being everything in life we encounter that is broken, including ourselves.

But what does that look like? What is ‘love’ exactly?

Many acts are committed in the name of love, but not all of those acts are love or even define it accurately. Some wear the label of love but are the proverbial wolves in sheep clothing with the direct intention of leading us far from actual love.

To show it, or receive it for that matter, we need to know what love is, don’t we?

Well, aside from showing us in incredible ways, God also wrote down the definition so we can be sure of what He meant when He created and gave to us – Love.

Love is…

Patient

Kind

Not jealous

Not boastful

Not proud (aka haughty)

Not rude

Not demanding of its own way (aka forbearing, unselfish)

Not irritable (aka short-tempered)

Forgiving (aka keeps no record of wrong)

Dismayed with injustice (aka sin, evil)

Jubilant in Truth

Enduring (aka does not give up)

Faithful

Hopeful

Steadfast (aka loyal despite circumstances)

If any act of ‘love’ lies outside these parameters, then the chances are that it is not love or loving at all.

This definition (found in 1 Corinthians 13) is not only there for us to know love when we see it, but also to show us how to give love to others.

Are our actions worthy of the label of love?

Another litmus test would be to compare actions to those of the Perfect Lover, Jesus Christ. His becoming human, dying on the cross and resurrecting from the grave are all actions of LOVE, a perfect example embodying every attribute of love listed above. He is the fulfillment of Love, the essence, the quintessence… that is why the Bible says He is Love.

If I were you, I wouldn’t settle for anything less.

(photo by photobucket.com)