I spoke to someone yesterday about the subject of love. Love is a tough thing for the average person to describe because it involves so many things. They would describe an act of love and I would say, “Yes, that is part of it.” We see only the bits and pieces of love. The whole of it is really difficult to comprehend. As difficult as it is to describe there is no denying we all need it. Infants crave it from their mothers and mothers instinctively give it. Husbands and wives need it from each other which forms a basis for a healthy marriage relationship. There is no one thing which describes love, save one. He, however, is not a thing but a Divine Being. He pursues us with the desire we would love Him in return. He seeks one after His own heart.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
(1 Samuel 13:14)
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
(Acts 13:22)
If you read this carefully, you will see God considers doing His will an act of love towards Him. He calls David “a man after his own heart.” Doing God’s will with a sincere heart is an act of worship and an act of love. Love is a living thing which grows if it is nurtured. The works a Christian does are motivated because of love for God. (James 2:26) However, works performed by a Christian have nothing to do with salvation. Salvation is something completely done by the love God has for you. You have no part in that other than the acceptance of it. (Ephesians 2:8)
Paul defined love like this:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version)
After reading this verse I want you to think of the last argument or disagreement you had with someone. If it was over something petty I would like you to read this twice. To be honest, I have to read it twice myself. I hear this verse used to describe a marriage relationship. It works for that but it is how we should treat every living human. It is how we are to treat each other and how we are to treat God if we truly love Him.
To a degree we will all fall short in our ability to love the way God does. I do believe he grants grace and extra measure to those who really seek Him. David was a man after the heart of God but there were times recorded He fell a bit short too. God still loved him and honored His promises to him. There is no reason to believe He would not honor your sincere desire for love as well.
After all this talk, I still cannot describe love any better than I could before. I only know that love is real. I think it comes with time and application. It applies best when we aren’t trying to apply it at all. Love speaks to the hearts of those you care about when you don’t even say a word. It shows in our actions and motives. It dances in our eyes and wells in our tears. It flows like a river from the very throne of God. (Revelation 22:1) It is up to us to decide to jump in the river and get wet.
Father, I thank you for being who you are. I thank you for all you do for me and providing for me. I ask you would help me to walk better according to what you would have me do. Help me to walk in love of you and all I come into contact with. Not only me Lord, but those who read this and desire the same. I ask you would bless them with this. May all this be done according to your will. In the name of Jesus I ask these things. Amen.
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