Love - Emotional or Mental?

Chosen Generation~

I'm studying the fruit of the Spirit right now, and am working through love.

Last night I noticed several things that I've either overlooked, or just never noticed about love.

Have you ever noticed how many times the word "love" is used in both the New and the Old Testaments? I tried looking up how many, but ostensibly, people seem to have very different counts, so I couldn't trust any as truly reliable sources.

One of the first questions about love is how we are to love. To a Christian that answer may seem blatant, but it requires deeper searching to truly define such an amazing thing. But, as a basis, what is that unmitigated answer?

That, "as a child of God, we are to love others in the way that we see it modeled by God and His Son (A Young Woman's Walk with God, Elizabeth George)."

In search of passages that "prove" this truth, I find it repeated over and over again. Usually, when God repeats something - that means it's important. Just thought you'd like to know.

Ephesians 5:2: And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

John 15:12: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Matthew 22:39: And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Luke 6:27: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."

So, in a nutshell, we are to love as Christ loves, love how we ourselves wish to be loved, and be forgiving.

In short, Christ-like love is nothing like what we see modeled in this world.

Many people consider themselves in love merely because of fleeting fancies, one time glimpses, and "love at first sight." But real love takes work. It takes effort, not just eyes. Jesus was and is the greatest Lover of all time, yet for some reason I doubt that He would be one you would immediately pick out from a crowd and declare undying faithfulness to.

Love doesn't happen.

Love grows, like a plant. The more you care and work with a plant, the stronger and healthier it will become. I don't know the percentage, but for most of those people who experience "love at first sight" - that love fails within a matter of months, weeks, maybe even minutes. You can be angry I said that, it's okay with me if you are. But deep inside, you too know that to experience a good result in any one thing, whether it be school, life, or relationships - one must work and “put his hand to the plow.” As the old adage goes, "good things never come easy."

I've established that love takes work, now realize that love is an act of the will.

Love.

What part of speech is it?

A verb.

Yes, but what kind?

An action verb…

Exactly.

Love takes action - work is action, and will is action. But, keep in mind that I'm not only referring to erotas, but also to agape, philia, storge, etc (if you don't know the meaning's of these words, go here).

As this book reiterates, it's hard to love under stressful conditions, yet that's where most of life occurs. Joy, you say. But it's time to face facts, so grow up (don't worry - I'm more immature than anyone reading this, that I can assure you). Anyway, it's at these times that love is most important, not the receiving of love, but the giving of it.

What, you say. I'm tired, my body aches, my stomach is in pain, my head hurts - and I'm supposed to continue to give?

How do you think our Lord Jesus felt on the cross, with nails in His hands and feet, blood dripping like you would never imagine?

Christian love is an act of will, a deliberate effort that we can make only by the grace of God.

As A Young Woman’s Walk with God states,

"so we choose to:

- give love when we want to withhold,

-reach out to others when we are tired and want to rest,

-serve when we want to be served, and

-help others when we ourselves are hurting."

A tall order? Of course, but with Jesus, impossible is nothing.

This kind of love comes only from our dear Savior, without Him we are nothing, and have no ability to even understand love.

In conclusion, love is not emotional, but an act of the will. A very important difference.

Well, I should go to bed, tomorrow I'll talk about Principle #2: Love is action, not just words.

By the way, did you know that there's a word called "antediluvian"? *shakes head in wonder* Just in case you'll ever have use for it, here's the definition for your arsenal:" 1 : of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible

2 a : made, evolved, or developed a long time ago." (Merriam-Webster)

It was first used in 1646, so I’m hoping someone’s heard of it…

Now that you can write a better paragraph, unlike the ones I just quickly scribbled, I can go to bed in peace.:P

Impossible is Nothing

Be a World Changer