How do you know love is real? What is true love as opposed to being false? Then again, why even ask such questions? Why?Much of the so-called love portrayed in the world is contrary to Scripture. And, as a result, many people are confused by what the world says and propagates about love.
True love, real love, everlasting love is first to be found in God; because God is love. Without Him, we only have pale imitations of what He intended for mankind.
Without godly love, we cannot all just get along. Without godly love, we cannot truly forgive. Without godly love, we cannot love our neighbors as ourselves. Without godly love, we cannot love God.
All this, may sound a bit strange. Yet it is true. Without the true and living God there can be no real love in life. On the other hand, with an acceptance of the Lord, the love of God is by grace shed in our hearts (Romans 5:5; 10:9).
Let’s briefly examine what Scripture says about love. Godly love in Scripture is referred to as “agape” love. It is the highest form of love. Agape love makes possible the kind of love connection we all must have for God, self and others. Without agape love reigning in our hearts all else is only a shadow.
Sensual love, love of family and love of friends must all have their roots in agape for them to be truly meaningful.
Love as promoted on the soap operas, the big screen, HBO, and MTV all pale in comparison to the life-changing, life-sacrificing nature of the love of God.
As passionate students of the Word of God, we can never be deceived about this thing called “love.” God has made the nature of His love so plain a child could understand it.
In Corinthians 13:1-8, godly love is described beginning with the fact that it is “patient” and ending with the fact that “love always succeeds.” And, of all the things we possess, it is love that will endure forever (v. 13).
Whenever love is described and it does not match what we are taught in Corinthians 13:1-13, it must be suspect. No matter how good it sounds. No matter how good it looks. No matter how good it feels.
Scripture is quite plain about this thing called love. If love does not match up to what God has said in His Word, then love must be questioned, examined, challenged. That is the only way we can determine if it is genuine or false.
Understand that Jesus Christ love is the standard by which we are to love each other: “Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12). And, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9). Jesus goes as far as to say, “Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13).
When we know what the Lord has said about love and its role in our daily lives then there will be no confusion.
To conclude, I’ll just cite seven commands given to us by God that will keep us equally yoked in love. “Keep on loving each other as brothers” (Hebrews 13:1). “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10).
“Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). “Be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). “Be encouraged in heart and united in love” (Colossians 2:2). “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess. 3:12).
True love begins with God. When you have it, and I mean truly have it, then nothing can separate you from it-Real Love.