True Love

[dddoo7]

“Love” is such a complex concept that it is very difficult to comprehend. Love is difficult to define and sometimes even more difficult to express. True love is an ever growing thing that becomes more and more invested in the object of love. In ones mind, the definition of “love” and “passion” often become intertwined and this leads to an improper definition of true love. The young man on prom night might profess his undying love for a young lady only to leave her abandoned the next morning. While these two might have felt something, it was far from true love. True love is something that can exist completely separate from physical passion, yet is rarely seen in the world.

The Bible often talks of love and while Biblical love is rarely compared to the love one shares with others, in reality it is exactly the same love. Love, as talked about in the Bible gives a great picture of the true love one should strive for.

Many times, love in the Bible is coupled with truth, correction, or bringing one to truth (3 John 1, 2 Jn 3, Eph 4:15; 1 John 3:18, Rev 3:19). Deception and lies have no place in love. True love does not allow room for deception or lies, but rather complete and honest truth. True love will correct one when they are wrong and help them back to right. True love will not bring a feeling of peace and comfort to one when there really is no peace or comfort.

Another major theme that is seen with love in the Bible is sacrifice. God’s love for mankind moved Him to send His son that we might live (1 John 4:9). Christ’s love for man moved Him to go to the cross (Ephesians 5:25). It was Paul’s love for the lost souls of the world that led him to travel the world teaching the truth (1 Corinthians 16:24). Paul gave up his reputation, his social standing and endured great persecution because of his love for lost souls...most of which rejected the truth that he sacrificed so much to bring to them. Love involves sacrifice. When we love God we will sacrifice to obey Him (2 John 6). When we love Christians, we will sacrifice to help them (1 Peter 1:22). When we love our spouse as we should, we will sacrifice for them (Ephesians 5:25-28).

True love leads to a great trust. When one always wants what is best for another, is always truthful, and is willing to sacrifice of themselves for the other then it leads to a great trust. The love that God has shown us should lead us to trust Him. He has always loved us, always done what is best for us, always been willing to sacrifice for us, and always been truthful with us. When we believe that God loves us, it gives us boldness. Boldness because we know the power of God, His truthfulness, promises, and love. We know that when we obey Him we will stand before Him pure in the day of Judgment. There will be no reason for fear because He loves us. There will be no reason for doubt because He promised eternal life to the faithful. True love, perfect love, love that trusts God completely casts out fear because His love is true and perfect (1 John 4:16-18).

1 John 4:16-18 says, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love."