True Love

True Love

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

In all the experiences I have seen in this life, there is no other word, expression or truth that has been badly misinterpreted, maligned and abused as much as 'love'. Everything around our lives seeks to find the true meaning and essence of this 'love'. Movies try and explain it, and because they do not understand its true meaning, every act of illicit and illegal sexual activity is defined as 'making love'. Novels try to explain it, but because they also do not know what it means, what they refer to as  'love at first sight' is actually a physical, natural attraction that usually leads to the faulty 'making love' that movies promote these days. Friends try to define what they share as true love, but because the foundation of the understanding of what love means is faulty, they replace true love with 'deep friendship', until a terrible quarrel comes and separates them, sometimes permanently.  We now use the word 'love' interchangeably with like, appreciate, and friendship, among other similar expressions. The issue is: if all these were true love, why are our lives still empty and devoid of direction, impact and effect? Why are we still struggling to accept the other person, with his/her imperfections and all?

The fundamental answer is a fundamental understanding of what 'love' really means. Today's extract answers this question, as it gives us the source, meaning, impact and essence of love. First of all, the greatest example is as this passage has laid down: Christ gave his life for us. Time will not permit me to fully expand on this, but this love was not expecting anything in return when it was given. There was no expected reward, no forced response. The objects of this love did not even appreciate what had been given, but the love was shown all the same. This is true love, a love that does not do things because it wants to be paid back, or because the target of the love is 'lovable', but simply because love had to be shown regardless of the response. This love was also shown in action, not in words. I know ladies who will literally 'die' if they were to hear the words: 'I Love You' from someone they have been secretly admiring for a long time, but remember talk is cheap. Most men, forgive me for this, but we are quick to talk and slow to act. We calculate and rationalize before we do anything, because we cannot give something for nothing. That was not the example that was laid down for us; Christ said it and did it. He backed up his confession of love with a life of showing love. We ought to do the same if we claim to follow Christ.

This is getting really long so let me just conclude here: Love is not just an act, or a process. One of the gravest mistakes we make is seeing love from the basis of an act. We explain love from the angle of its target, or the source of the action itself,  instead of the true source. We see the action or the outward expression and we define what we see as love, forgetting that what we see can be polluted by the wrong motive or intentions. True love is God-personified, not man-made. Man, in his fallen state, is not capable of true love. He can only truly show it and receive it in the right context: when his heart is ruled by true Love Himself -Jesus Christ. He has shown us true love, and he has taught us how we can truly love. All we can do is live and love like him. Beyond Valentine's Day and all the noise that will be generated today, your show of love can only make sense and impact when you have understood the true source of love. Get the source right and all the fruits your life produce will be right. Get the origin wrong, and everything else will be a waste of space and resources. Remember-  You cannot give what you don't have.  His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, teach me what true Love means. Help me know you truly, and live my life as you direct. Amen.