If I asked an average person off the street what love is, they would probably say it was an emotion. It is an emotion, but it is far more than that. First of all, without love, we would have no hope for eternal life. Because God loved the world He gave his Son to die. That's a little bit more than an emotion if you ask me.
Love is an action word. Ok that probably sounds cheesy, but it's so true! If you tell someone you love them, and don't warn them that a car is about to run them over, you are not loving them. Or if you say you love them but don't warn them that they are on the road to hell. Those are empty words. Now if we apply that to the verse where Jesus says "Love your neighbor as yourself," That gives it a whole new meaning.
It doesn't just mean to be kind to other people. (Even though that is a good thing.) It means to show them love. Not even necessarily saying it, but doing it. Especially in sharing the gospel with them.
There are always those people you know who are really hard to love. Those are the people you have to ask God to change your heart towards them. Those people you so strongly dislike that you really don't even want to share the gospel with them. Jesus said "Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you."
In the Church, being loving can mean correction or discipline. Why is this loving? Because in doing this we are helping each other to keep from falling into sin.
In Corinthians it says the ultimate challenge: "Do everything in love." Everything.
There are a few people in my church who will come up to you and hug you before they know your name. These are usually elderly men who are kind of considered grandpas to everyone in the church. They give full hugs too. The kind where you know they love you. Not the empty ones where you can tell they are feeling compelled to hug you.
~Melody
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