I've really hesitated on talking about this subject. Love is a touchy subject. We all have different definitions of the word. If you were to go to 100 random people and ask them what love is, you'd most likely get 100 different answers. My definition of love is the typical church answer: Jesus. Jesus is love personified.
This might seem like I'm just using Jesus as a scapegoat but in actuality, if you've met the Jesus that scripture talks about, you'd be writing this same thing. In 1 John 4:19, scripture says, "We love because He first loved us." The love of Christ is so vast, so wide, so expansive, so deep, so scandalous, etc. I could go on for days without stopping. The Creator of the universe and everything we know sent Himself as a baby into a lowly manger. He grew up loving people and loving God. At 30 He started His earthly ministry of telling people of the hope that had come to earth to save them. He died for our wrongdoings, sin, and it wasn't pretty. He was whipped 39 times. He carried a Roman cross about a mile up a hill. He was nailed to that very cross. He owned nothing; even His garments that He did own were auctioned off before Him as He was dying. He died in a way that the King of Heaven shouldn't have even thought of. He died a gruesome and painful death and all the while He had one thing on His mind: you.
The love Jesus has for you and me is indescribable. I wish we had the vocabulary to show what it's like but human words cannot contain His love. This kind of love is what we're supposed to have for people (John 13:34). The way we love people is a direct representation of our walk with God (1 John 4:7-8).
As I'm writing this, I'm deeply convicted. The love of Christ is compelling and overall something we should attempt to emulate. The way people know we are different is how we love others (John 13:35). My prayer is that we love people as Christ first loved us. A sacrificial, scandalous, and dangerous love. This kind of love is scary. This kind of love is dangerous. This kind of love is messy and hard. You will be hurt sometimes but this is how Jesus loves, so shouldn't we try to replicate that? If we really want to be like Jesus more, it's time to start loving like Him. May we love people as God loves us. Much love and God bless.
