What is LOVE??

First of all, let me start by saying, I do not believe in the term "Falling IN love". Because that then implies that you can fall OUT of love. And I don't think that's true. Nor do I want it to be.

"Falling in love" implies emotion as the base of it all. Love is not an emotion, or a feeling. Sure, you HAVE emotion and feeling when you love someone, but you do not love someone BECAUSE of your emotion or feeling. It's a choice. You CHOOSE to love someone. When my parents said "I do", they were choosing and promising to love eachother "until death do them apart". When Christ died for us on the cross, He was CHOOSING to love us. I'm sure he didn't just "feel" like being nailed to a cross because of some "feeling" he was having towards us. It was a choice.

LOVE means to do what is best for someone physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.

So how do we truly LOVE God? How do we love him in that way?? How do we do what's best for GOD physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially??! After a long discussion in our bible class, this is what we came up with:

• Emotionally: OBEDIENCE. 1 John 5:3 says "This is love for God: to obey his commands."

• Physically: SERVING. Matthew 25:35-40 says that whatever we do for the least of these, we do unto Him.
  "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

• Spiritually: WORSHIP. Mark 12:29-30 says "'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind and with all your strength.'"

• Socially: EVANGELISM/FELLOWSHIP. Mark 16:15 says "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." John 17:11 says, "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name- the name you gave me- so that they may be ONE as we are one."

Sorry that was so scatter-brained. I hope you kind of understand what I'm trying to say. It's something that's been on my mind for awhile. Learning to love God with all I've got.