What is True Love Anyway?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

To read all of 1 Corinthians 13, click here: 1 Corinthians 13

REFLECTION

With Valentines Day only 10 days away, it got me thinking. To be honest, it is not my favorite "holiday."

I remember, as a teenager, wondering, “How will I know true love when I see it?” We use the word love so freely—loving a favorite football team, a song, a meal, or a person we hope to spend the rest of our lives with.

Yet our experience with love on this earth has often been tainted. Betrayal, abuse, neglect, abandonment, and deception from those we believed loved us can leave us guarded, wounded, and unsure of what love truly is.

As hard as it is to find faithful love from others, it is just as hard (if not more) for us to show true love. Take a moment for honest reflection.

Substitute your own name in place of the word “love.”

• ___________ is patient

• ___________ is kind

• ___________ does not boast and is not proud

• ___________ does not dishonor others

• ___________ is not self-seeking

• ___________ is not easily angered

• ___________ keeps no record of wrongs

• ___________ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

• ___________ always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

• ___________ never fails

What does this reveal?

When we look closely, the reality becomes clear: none of us can live up to this definition of love perfectly. Not one of us embodies this kind of love in every thought, word, and action. When we focus on how others have let us down, we can miss where we have been part of the problem. This exercise is not meant to bring shame, but to gently reveal our deep need for a love beyond ourselves.

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Then He added, “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

So if we fall short—and we do—where does that leave us?

The Master Designer of the universe is the author of love itself. Love is not simply something He does; it is who He IS. Love is at the very center of His nature. We have all fallen far short, but God has not.

God is love. True love is not something we achieve; it is Someone we receive. He is always seeking what is best for us. His love is wider and deeper than the ocean. It is vaster than the expanse of the galaxies. Jesus told us that the greatest love is shown by laying down one’s life for friends. And He didn’t just say it—He lived it.

Romans 5:8 reminds us:“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Now substitute the name of Jesus in place of the word “love.”  He is the perfect reflection of God’s love for us.

• Jesus is patient

• Jesus is kind

• Jesus does not boast and is not proud

• Jesus does not dishonor others

• Jesus is not self-seeking

• Jesus is not easily angered

• Jesus keeps no record of wrongs

• Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

• Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

• JESUS NEVER FAILS

His perfect, true love is for YOU. We cannot give what we have not first received. Only in being filled to the brim with Jesus' love can we overflow with grateful love towards others.

What will your response be to the lavish love that God has poured out on you, through Jesus Christ? How will it transform how you pour out your love towards others today?

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply and then breathe out fully.

Ask God to fill you with a sense of His unfailing love. 

As you breathe in, say,

“Because God lavishly loves me. . .” 

As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you –

impatience,

unkindness,

boasting,

selfishness,

anger, etc.

As you exhale, say, “Let me be a vessel of His love.” 

Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work.