LOVE

The idea of love that I’ve known was solely based on the interactions I’ve had with people within proximity of me (family, school mates, neighbors and later on friendships and romantic relationships) and media outlets. I realized it has its moments of knowing and unknowing, peaks and lows and brokenness and hope. Every experience I’ve encountered with love, I poured out love, I took love. Love gave me butterflies, love gave me stomachaches. Love made my heart flutter and love also made my heart rage. I’m sure I can keep going on and on about love highs and lows, however, this was my experience with love without coming into the refuge of God.

When I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior was when love began to properly introduce itself to me. Slowly but surely, I came into the safe space where Jesus showed me love went beyond the cross on Calvary but it carried and still carries me and will carry me to eternity. I melted and wept. I remember when I said “I really love the Lord” and I was in awe with the feeling. Then He took me deeper into His bosom and I felt a wholeness, I’ve never felt before and it still grows. It never failed me.

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

After coming into the knowing of just a fraction of His love, when reading scripture, the Holy Spirit took me deeper in the word and I was able to feel the love behind the words the Lord spoke, in the Old Testament and New Testament. Don’t get me wrong sometimes Old Testament reading still shakes me to the depths of my soul, however, I know it was love that motivated it all.

Matthew 22:37 And Jesus replied to him, ‘“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ I’m going to add another commandment Jesus declared in John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

How can I hate another, when love carries me even during the times when I didn’t love myself. How can I conquer the hate I receive for being a light in a dark space? Not by matching their energy but providing an alternative, love. How can I not love when love is the Spirit that illuminates me?

I don’t have a word to describe love and 1 Corinthians 13:3-8 reminds me when I’m not moving in love to take that thought captive and tell it exactly what love is. What it isn’t: jealous, rude, self-seeking, proud, jealous, envious, or unfair. Love is patient, kind, thoughtful, humbling, strong, steadfast, enduring and the greatest feeling of all time (Kanye West voice, Lord I kid lol). Love wakes me up in the morning, Love sends more Love in the form of people I meet. Love puts things upon my heart so I never stray, love corrects me when I’m wrong and never shames me for it.

Musiq Soulchild sang “teach me how to love, show me the way to surrender my heart”. Before I understood, I sang, the very season I’m living. Since He is Love, I invite you to allow Him to transform your perception of love by seeking Him. His love will allow you to love Him, yourself, your neighbor, spouse, children and a stranger with a pure heart. It will take you deeper and teach you how to love each moment and day because it is reflective of who He is.

To even imagine that this is just a mire preview of the depths of the Father is amazing. Stay blessed and may the love of the Lord encompass you, in Jesus name.

Amen.