What is Love?

 Perhaps on this Valentine’s Day weekend, a good question to ask is, “What is love?”

You may have seen the following answers.  They’re worth considering again.

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?"  The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.  See what you think:

•         "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." – Rebecca, age 8

•         "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." – Billy, age 4

•         "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." – Karl, age 5

•         "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." – Chrissy, age 6

•         "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." – Terri, age 4

•         "Love is when my Mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." – Danny, age 7

•         "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day." – Noelle, age 7

•         "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." – Tommy, age 6

•         "Love is when Mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken." – Elaine, age 5

•         "Love is when Mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." – Chris, age 8

•         "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." -- Mary Ann, age 4

•         "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." – Karen, age 7 *

These are cute sayings.  But what IS love?

Here is the supreme definition:  “THIS is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

THIS is Love: when we were lost because of our sins, God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross.  Through Jesus, we can have the forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of ETERNAL LIFE.

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  God will continue to cleanse the sins of those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

God’s supreme definition of LOVE has been expressed through the GIFT of His Son Jesus!

Won’t YOU accept His loving offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms?

David A. Sargent, Minister

 

* “What Does Love Mean?”

 http://www.cybersalt.org/illustrations/what-does-love-mean