What IS Love?
“So Ronda,” asked a fellow class member, “What does love mean to you? Is it a feeling or an emotion? What is your definition of love?” Taken aback by his directness, his question made me pause. I had just shared my reflections on a few scriptures we read this week where God refers to His steadfast love for His people multiple times. As I pondered these verses, the stirring of my heart prompted me to take a deeper dive into the meaning of God’s steadfast love and how this translates into everyday life.
Leaning heavily on the definition of steadfast, steadfast love is a love that never ends; it never grows old, quits, or runs out. It does not waiver or pull away, but instead holds on tight. Steadfast love is the light that shines in the darkness, always present; strong and steady. It’s firmly fixed and unmovable, never changing.
“But what IS this love?” my persistent classmate asked. Once again, I had to step back and think. How can I sum up such a multi-faceted concept as love?
Love as a verb, is first and foremost, an action. God set a beautiful example of this by sending Jesus into the world as a human being, just like us. God so loved the world that he SENT His only son so that through Him, we can have eternal life. Because God loves us, He did something for us. He was intentional. His love for us is made tangible in the person of Jesus Christ, who came as the perfect example of steadfast love.
Jesus washed his disciples feet. He ate dinner with sinners. He hung out with a tax collector, one of the least liked people of that time. In a culture that degraded women, he treated them with respect. He healed the sick and cast out demons. He wept at the death of a dear friend before He called him out of his tomb. He washed Judas’s feet, knowing he would betray him. And ultimately, Jesus died on a cross so that we could live.
As a follower of Jesus, my steadfast love for God is demonstrated by the actions and behaviors I exhibit towards ALL people, not just those whom I like. Am I patient with people who drive me crazy? Do I forgive those who have ‘done me wrong’? Do I treat people with kindness, especially those who think differently than me? Am I a peacemaker when discussions begin to escalate? Do I consider others more important than myself? Am I willing to give up the right to be right all for the sake of the relationship? Can I make the choice to be wounded rather than to wound, to be a server than to be served?
Oh my. Even as I re-read this vain attempt to define something so complex, the real question I find myself asking is, “How in the world can I do all this when I am weak and inconsistent, often filled with fear, pride, and selfishness? How can I love like Jesus when I feel so ill-equipped? How can I love people who view the world from another perspective? How can I love someone who values the things I don’t and makes a mockery of the things I hold dear?
Throwing myself into the arms of Jesus, I find myself sobbing at my inability to love others like He does. As I make my plea for Him to transform me into a person who loves others well, He lovingly reassures me He’ll give me the grace and freedom I need in order to love others better. And so I cling to this hope, not only for myself, but for all of us who crave a kinder and gentler world, where love comes first and dignity for all life is restored. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
