Real Love Revealed

Incredible good news: the divorce rate in America where I live is dropping some.The number of marriages first-time beginning in the 1990's and have reached their fifteenth anniversary is at 70% as opposed to the 65% that started in both the 1970's and 198's. But this hub will attempt to define what real love is as apposed to supposed love .

Real love can be defined as regarding maturity. While not fitting everyone, one's state of emotional maturity gives one a better chance of understanding what real love is, I think it is safe to say Paul probably had Jesus Christ in mind in the above example.

It is also a safe assumption real love is not selfish. One will not find Jesus Christ's actions selfish in any of His dealings with His creation. He healed people who did not display faith. He did favors for people without thanks. Not one time did He do anything in retaliation. Not one evil word comes out of His mouth when in fact He said, “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6.37)

We who have come to Him are grateful for that. His statement "I will by no means cast out." sounds rather definitive. It would also imply that those who come to Him do drawn by His love and acceptance in the world full of strife, contention, confusion, and selfishness. It is easy for one to love someone who loves back so much. Likewise, it is easy for one to want to be in this love away from hate, abuse, and selfishness.

Are there good times and joyous moments involved with love? You bet there are. But what is the base in a relationship when sickness, tragedies, and conflicts occur? If the base in a relationship is loving it more than likely can survive. The best example of real love comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. Before dismissing this outright, investigate.

The biggest prohibitive to knowledge is the assumption that you already have it. For those of us who believe as the Apostle John does, that Jesus Christ was God come down to be a man, He is a natural place to start. Jesus changed our world in a short three-year ministry or one thousand days. He loved selflessly. He loved when it was not convenient and not returned. Paul described Jesus love correctly in 1 Corinthians 13 in which the Apostle wrote to the fleshly church at Corinth.

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

And like all great writers Paul ends his definition of love with a bang, "Love never fails." Jesus Christ's love has not and never will fail. My definition of love is, "Love is a commitment of the will to do that which benefits the one receiving the love, often at a significant personal cost, and never depending on the one receiving the love returning it."

One only has to look at the love of God to see its depth, His Son Jesus Christ, and what they are doing and have done is to see real love in action. So many do not even believe in either of them, so it is not as easy to see God's love for these. Must less the love the Lord gives to those who do not thank them. I know God kept me safe in the years of my wandering.

On this side of heaven we all "know in part." (1 Corinthians 13.9) But the closest love to God's love, which is hard to understand, is the love of a mother. That is not to say that the love of a father is any less, it is not. The same for a grandmother, grandfather, aunt or uncle. But there is something special about the love of a mother. I know Mother patiently taught me the things of God.

Treat your mother as the special gift from God she is. Now let us look at the situation in the world. Instead, of selflessness there is selfishness. The examples of greed are everywhere. Individuals in the world are number one. One must put oneself first at all times. Remember, Christians are in the world but not of the world. (1 John 2.15) Putting yourself first all the time does nothing to enhance one's relationships, does it? It does not mean you can not take time for yourself; you can.

Putting oneself first all the time does not help at work or home. In fact in both cases it not only does not help but it separates one from others while creating strife, resentment, and anger. In a job, the result of separation is often firing. In one’s relationships, it creates resentment that often leads to divorce. Selfishness cannot be found in the list of things that a Christian should possess. Galatians 5.22-23 does an adequate job of containing all the selfless attributes of a Christian, who is lead by the Spirit of God. It is under-taught in churches and, as a result, is not understood or practiced by the average Christian.

One of the fascinating facts about Paul’s Spirit led description of a Christian character is that he listed love as the first attribute. It is, therefore, significant. In the world, a Christians idea about what love is at least influenced by the media. If what one does is not love motivated it produces zero profit. One will find this to be true at work, in personal relationships, and more importantly with God.

Paul, teaching the errant Corinth Church taught them about what love produces in 1 Corinthians 13.3-8. If one reads and understands this, there would be less divorce, strife, and conflict. So, to summarize, we have listed a Christian’s attributes of personality and what love produces. However, we have not yet given the meaning of love. For this, we must look at our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He, being both God and human, walked the land of Palestine motivated by love. From the example of Jesus, one can say love is always selfless. Jesus healed people selflessly who then healed many persons selflessly. Many of these had never given anything to sustain the disciples as they traveled. The disciples had given up everything to follow the Lord.

Real love, I hope you practice. You can start today by making your mind up to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ. I have those who ask me how can one be more like Jesus Christ, who have never thought it through.

By studying his actions with His creation, one sees a pattern of selfless love. He loves regardless of the circumstances. Jesus Christ wore love like a garment. So can we.

Please note: I invite your comments and suggestions. Over the last two years, I have had comments from Christians, existentialists, logical positives, Hindus, Buddhists, liberal Humanists, liberal Protestants, liberal Roman Catholics, Reformed Jews, agnostics, and atheist. I love them all. I believe they are sincere in their beliefs. Most are sincerely wrong.

I hope you enjoy reading the short articles. I hope they inspire you to study the Word of God. Within lies salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, the only way to God.(John 14.6)

I hope you learn Please contact me at the link above the article above and let me know what subjects you would like to read. I am a Professor of Biblical Studies and Ministry at Bible University.

This online university allows anyone to get their degree in two disciplines entirely free. Our method of deployment is fully approved as a religious university issuing religious degrees by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the Canadian Board of Higher Education.

You will work harder and learn more than you ever have to obtain your degree. Our programs include undergraduate and graduate level courses with a free Masters and Doctorate in Biblical Studies and Ministry. We also have a fee-based Doctorate in Gnostic Studies as well for a small fee.

I hope you enjoyed this short Hub on what love is. I hope you are inspired to study the Word of God with a fresh attitude. It is an extraterrestrial document written by over forty different authors over almost 2,000 years. Every jot or tittle, letter, word, number, or symbol means something and leads to exciting new discoveries.

If you are not a Christian and you are trapped in the world do this. Get alone where ever you can and pray to God for forgiveness. You see your connection to God is like an internet connection that has been cut. No matter how many times you try to go on the internet it is still cut. It does not matter how many times it is cut God can repair it. So we need to have the connection between you and God prepared. He is waiting for you to pray something like "Heavenly Father please forgive me because I have sinned and without you I will continue to live in a world of sin. I want you to come in the heart and help me to learn to trust You. I thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sin. Thank you for saving me from the world. I am now clean and I can now grow in knowledge of you my Father. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen!" Now find a body of believers and get to know people who can help you grow.

If you are a Christian and have sinned and feel gulilty pray to Jesus Christ for forgiveness.There is not one sin He cannot forgive. He loves you like a father loves a son or daughter. He wants to deliver you from your guilt, and restore you to sonship or daughtership like never before. His grace and blood cover you from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Amen!

Love like Jesus Christ had can come from a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt or uncle or many others. We know in part, and we love in part.

What is your definition of Love?