Redefining Love

What does love mean? Love is something that is meant to be pure and beautiful but has been distorted. Love was meant to be a display of kindness and affection. Instead it is often used to exploit, manipulate, and hurt people. The concept of love has been so distorted by society that it can lead a man to believe buying a women for sex is “love”.  

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "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, and always perseveres.”

As well as being a favourite Bible verse for a wedding, this passage also gives us insight into the love that God has for us, but also the love He intends for us to give and receive. God’s love for us is meant to be an example of how we should love one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34.

We need to understand the love that our God has for us. He is patient with us, He is kind to us, and He does not keep a record of our wrongs. This passage lists so many ways God loves us. I want you to spend some time looking at yourself through Gods eyes. Eyes that protect, eyes that trust and hope, eyes that always persevere. See the way God loves you so you can love others in this way.

I want this blog to challenge you. To push your concept of Love and how you show love to others. Have you ever taken a moment to consider if your love is patient? If your love is not self-seeking? Why not challenge yourself over the next few days to go through the list Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and see if each day you can love someone in one of these ways.

So many times we read this passage and we think “that’s a beautiful passage”. But let's take it further! Let's apply this passage in our life. Let's fight to redefine society's definition of love and let's start by loving people in the way Paul teaches us here.