Love Part 3

 

True Love and what that looks like…

Many talks about love—romantic love, friendship, family love—but how many truly understand what love is? The Bible tells us the answer is found not in the world around us, but in God Himself.

We can never fully know true love apart from knowing God, because God is love in His very essence. 1 John 4:8 declares: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” True love does not start with emotion, feelings, or actions; it begins with a relationship with the One who is love.

When we encounter God, we encounter love that is sacrificial, patient, and unwavering. Jesus demonstrated this perfectly: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Love is measured in selfless action, not in words or fleeting feelings.

Knowing God transforms our hearts. 1 John 4:7 reminds us: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” Love flows from God through us. Without Him, our love is incomplete, inconsistent, and often conditional.

 

The World’s Definition of Love

The world tells us, love is:

• A feeling or emotion – “I love you because of how you make me feel.”
• Romantic or physical attraction – “Love is passion, desire, and chemistry.”
• Conditional and transactional – “I’ll love you if you meet my needs or expectations.”
• Temporary or fleeting – “Love lasts as long as the feeling lasts.”

The problem is, these definitions are limited, unstable, and self-focused. They measure love by what we receive, not what we give, and they are easily shaken by disappointment, conflict, or change.

In contrast, God’s love is eternal, unconditional, and sacrificial:

• It is action, not just emotion – Jesus laid down His life for us (John 15:13).
• It is unconditional – Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• It transforms us – God’s love fills us, enabling us to love others in ways we could never manage on our own (1 John 4:19).
• It endures all things – 1 Corinthians 13:7: “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

The world tells us love is about how it feels or what we get. God teaches us love is about who we are in Him and what we give.  Biblical Love is Available to All

Biblical truth about love is available to anyone who seeks it with intent. The Scriptures lay out the principles clearly, and the path is open to all who desire to understand. But true love—real change in how we live, think, and respond—is the work of the Holy Spirit. Knowledge alone can inform, but the Spirit transforms.

 

Knowing God Teaches Us to Love

True love isn’t something we simply learn from books, movies, or even relationships—it is cultivated in the heart of someone who knows God. When we spend time with Him, His love transforms us from the inside out.

• It teaches patience and kindness – 1 Corinthians 13:4: “Love is patient, love is kind.” In daily life, this means responding gently instead of reacting harshly and acting in someone’s best interest even when inconvenient.
• It humbles us and removes self-interest – God’s love isn’t about getting; it’s about giving. When we imitate Him, we stop keeping score and start serving others without expectation.
• It empowers forgiveness – Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
• It perseveres through challenges – 1 Corinthians 13:7: love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Knowing God doesn’t make love effortless, but it makes it real, steadfast, and transformative. The more we abide in Him, the more His love becomes our default response—in our families, friendships, and even toward strangers.

True love is learned in the school of God. Every act of patience, forgiveness, and selfless giving reflects the love we’ve first received from Him.

 

Conclusion

True love begins with God. Anything else is imitation—beautiful at times, but incomplete. The world’s definitions are fleeting, conditional, and self-centred. God’s love is eternal, unconditional, and transformative.

Biblical love is available to anyone who seeks it, but true application and lasting change require the work of the Holy Spirit. To love like God, we must first know Him, receive His Spirit, and allow His love to flow through us. Then, love becomes more than emotion—it becomes a reflection of God’s nature in every part of our lives.

True love is not learned in the world; it is received from God, nurtured in the heart by His Spirit, and expressed in selfless action. Seek Him first and let His love guide every step.

 

To God be the glory for now and evermore, Amen and Amen!

Signing off,

Tyrone