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

 

Every human is born craving love. Babies cry to be held and children reach for their parents. We all yearn for connection and then begin to define love based on our experiences.

 

As a girl, Dina was constantly criticized and belittled by her parents. When she grew up, she married a man who constantly berated her. It might seem shocking that after such an unhappy childhood Dina would grow up and voluntarily choose a lifetime with such a spouse, but it’s surprisingly common. What we experience growing up often defines what we believe about love.

 

The Bible illuminates for us the ways we’ve strayed from the true meaning of love and gives us a starting place for reexamining what we believe about love. Here are some of the things that scripture says real love does and doesn’t do: “Love covers a multitude of sins,” and “perfect love expels all fear.” “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” (I Peter 4:8, I John 4:18, I Corinthians 13:4-7).

 

Like Dina, we don’t just need a new definition of love– we need to experience God’s real love that changes us. This is the love that Jesus, God’s son, embodies. Meeting Jesus is a life-long journey of discovering what love coming alive looks and feels like. You can ask Jesus to reveal Himself and His love to you right where you are now.