Journal Entry #1: What is Love?

What does the embodiment of love look like?

The question that mankind is and has been trying to answer and understand for years, thinks he’s found what it truly means and yet, still misses the mark.

I’m reminded of the traditional love song that we get to share with Jesus, “Jesus went to Calvary to save a wretch like you and me, that’s love.” Also, 1 John 4:9 KJV says, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

When we receive the beauty of the cross & the truth of Christ’s love in us, in fullness—it then helps us to understand the true beauty of what love is. Love is the epitome of sacrifice. Now, of course, it isn’t sacrificial in the way that Christ’s love was sacrificial for us; in love, He was slain for us. But when we think of what it means to love in the everyday relationships that God has gifted us with and has allowed us to be stewards over, we see that same formula of love, making itself known—daily. Love is the epitome of sacrifice. 

It is patient, it is kind, it is enduring—a long-suffering sacrifice. Love is serving your brother and sister over your own needs (we all could use help in this area); love is putting on love when it’s inconvenient to do so. Love is enduring to the end; love is knowing the deepest parts of someone (flaws and all) and still saying, I choose you. I accept you, I receive who you are and who the Lord has made you to be—I say yes to who you are, no matter the uncomfortableness of my flesh. I say yes to the very person that you are—love is a commitment, a choice and it creates freedom for the other individual who’s on the receiving end of the love that’s given. Freedom to know, “On my worst and best day, they still love me. When my opinion isn’t favorable, when my mindset isn’t favorable—they love me. And you know what else? They’re committed to the process that comes with walking this life with someone, rather a marriage, friendship, etc.”

Love will fight even when it doesn’t have to or know how to and will invite the help of the Lord in the tough times when one doesn’t want to love, know how to love--or know what to do, in general. Love, in healthy relationships, will fight and endure even when hurt—it will stand the test of time, it will stand the test of the purifying work of Lord. Love can easily be the Rock that keeps us connected and on one accord because God is love. 

This is what makes it so powerful—love is everything He embodies to us, that when we put love on, we can be an example to the love of Christ that was extended towards us. This is why we need to receive His love, fully and healthily, spiritually and emotionally—it affects the relationships around us and our ability to endure in tough, non-desirable times; in other words, when this flesh is uncomfortable. If we’ve allowed the love of Christ to sanctify and purify us (this is a continual process, by the way) and to make us whole, then we position ourselves to hear from the Lord and receive His guidance on what it looks like to die to ourselves, that we may Love—even when it’s difficult and uncomfortable. 

The truth is: I haven’t always known love and seen love in this same light and it was extremely difficult to love in this manner when I hadn’t experienced the Lord's healing in the deepest, painful parts of my heart and soul. You know? The parts of me that tainted the purity of my soul & opened the door for me to receive and give love in a faulty manner. Because (and hear me on this), receiving the true love of God brings freedom, and casts out all fear, and makes us perfect (whole). And it then allows us to love those around us in a true, godly manner—it will be the reflection of His love that we have received in our lives. This is what I needed to understand; that it was more beneficial for me to love from the place of freedom and not from the platter of a stronghold that had come from the hurt and pain I'd experienced. My prayer is that you see the same for your life today, as well.

Pray this prayer: “Lord, Jesus—my Father, my Rock, my Example, my Help, will You help me to die that I may love. I don’t want my will in my relationships but Yours; have Your way in my mind, my heart, and my soul that I may be all who You want and have called me to be in my life and in my relationships. Help me to be present in my relationships in a way that exhibits the Truth of who You are and the love You’ve poured on mankind. Let me receive Your love in every area of my life that I may give the beauty of that love to those around me. I need You to literally function so I surrender my rights to You, I surrender my will to Yours, I surrender my way that I may love You and those around me, sacrificially. Help me to be mindful of improving in this area of my life, daily. And Lord, help me to practice the vulnerability that is in love...To remember that love has a cost and its sacrificial; help me to choose You and Your way in that sacrifice—only You alone can help me in this, so I trust You to do so as I depend on You to do so. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Until next time, 

LaGerrica 

Please note here that I’m speaking of love in healthy relationships and not necessarily emotionally, physically, or mentally abusive relationships. In that case, seek the help of your Pastor, wise counsel, therapy, or even the authorities, if need be. Use wisdom in all things and in every situation.