What is love? Paul's idea of love is that he will spend himself for people, and they may give him praise or give him blame, it will make no difference. So long as there is a human being that does not know Jesus Christ, he would be their debtor to serve them until they do.
The main spring of Paul's service was not love for men, but Christ's love for him and in turn his love for Jesus Christ.
"We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19
Love is a word that is definitely misused in our language, and culture, and time. We love our spouse, and we love Mexican food. True love for someone puts their well being and gain in front of our own. It means telling someone the truth in love because it is the best thing for them, even if it risks you no longer being liked by them.
"...love your neighbor like yourself..." Mark 12:31
This is the second greatest commandment after loving God with all of our heart, mind and soul. But what does that look like? What does that mean? How on earth do we do that? For me it takes little to no effort to love my children but some mornings I wake up and just don't "feel" like loving my neighbors. Dare I say that some mornings I wake up and don't "feel" like loving God.
Our love HAS to come as an overflow of meditating on and basking in God's love for us. Meditating on the truth of the Gospel is one way to do this, then we will be able to love freely and fully.
I am so excited thinking about my little granddaughter, she will know she was loved before we got to see her little face and hold her, just like when we are pregnant expecting our baby and loving that baby from the moment we find out she or he exist. The saddest thing for me is knowing that a baby does not have love and care. I thank God for this dream that I know will come true.
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