Real Love

What does love, real love look like? Well that’s easy, just look in the Bible, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT. 

Here are some characteristics of real love:

•  It is patient, so whenever you feel that someone is trying your patience, then you are not loving them with God’s love.
• Ever find yourself being harsh with someone, well love is kind, never short or harsh. 
• There is no room for jealousy in love. Remember jealousy is all about me and what I want, without care for the object of our jealousy.
• Love is never about me, so pride and a boastful attitude are not found in love.
• And here is a big one, how often do we get into fights with people because we are not getting what we want? Well love never demands its own way but always puts the other person first.
• Love does not keep a record of wrongs, how often do we get angry with someone and find ourselves bringing up wrongs and hurts from the past, not only does that show a lack of genuine forgiveness but it shows that we are not loving the other person.
•  Lastly, love does not give up. Satan is doing everything he can in his power to destroy you and the relationships in your life. Love will withstand and outlast satan’s assaults on these relationships. 

Love is always about the other person and as God’s love was about restoring a broken relationship so should our love be about relationships.  Our love should be all about loving everyone we encounter. These are the relationships of our life; some are brief encounters and others become lifelong commitments. Just as Jesus loved each person He came in contact with, and no matter how brief that moment with Jesus, He loved them wholeheartedly. We also are to love our families, our neighbors and everyone we come into contact with just as Jesus did.

“A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 NLT