Love One Another

How many teenagers through the years have asked, “Mother, how will I know when I’m in love?” Many young people have asked this question of at least one, if not both, of their parents. The answer was usually, “You’ll just know.” Allow me to state that, in my judgment, that’s not the right answer. Just ask the thousands of people who thought they were in love only to discover later that it was only a temporary case of infatuation. Divorce courts are filled with couples who thought they were in love, only to create a world of problems for themselves, family members, and friends. 

However, there are other kinds of love than just love for someone we marry. First. There is the love that our parents had for us. This is a resilient and powerful love. I read years ago that a woman will form a bond with her child almost the instant she finds out she is pregnant. Her love for her child, a child that is growing inside her body, starts immediately. It’s different for the father. While he may feel love for his unborn child, he doesn’t form a strong bond until he holds the child for the first time. Once the parental bond is formed, it rarely gets weaker, only stronger. The love we have for our children and grandchildren never goes away. It takes something monumental to break this bond. 

We love our parents. It’s pretty much the same as the love they have for us. Losing a parent, and many of us have lost both our dad and mom, is a devastating event. I can tell you from personal experience that you never get over the loss of a parent. God’s grace helps you to move on with your life, but it will forever be a part of your memory. 

We love our friends. We are close to them, and many are just like family. I have friends I am closer to and love deeper than some family members. That may not sound good, but it’s the truth. 

I could go on and on about who and what we love. We have the capacity to love many people. We even love our pets, certain foods, sports teams, and worship songs. For example, I love macaroni and cheese—but not like I love my wife. 

Jesus, as He often does, throws us a twist about love. He tells and shows us that we should love not only all those we’ve mentioned above, but also, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27, NASB). That’s hard to do. When someone is out to destroy you, or worse, seeking to destroy someone you love, it’s hard to love them. I have always been glad He did not tell us to like our enemies. He just told us to love them. 

Most of us understand that in the Greek, which is the language of the New Testament, He is not talking about the love we feel for family or friends. He is talking about the love we are commanded to have for every person on the earth—the love we are told to have for our Lord and our Father in heaven. 

I like the way this is translated in the Amplified Bible: “But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). 

Love, true love, will always seek what is best for the other person. Love, the love God commands of us, will always put others, even our enemies, ahead of ourselves. 

Isn’t that what Christ did? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NASB). Jesus’ death is not merely a historical event but a divine act of love, fulfilling God’s plan for humanity. 

If you really want to know if you love someone, read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13. In this passage, Paul tells us what true love is. I have told young people to read that chapter and then said to them, “If your boyfriend or girlfriend isn’t treating you the way this chapter describes, they are not in love with you.” 

The last thing I would like to say is love, true love, is going to cost you something. Sometimes people you love hurt you deeply, but keep on loving them. Never stop loving anyone, not even those who are your enemies. 

Remember these words, “And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, NASB). 

Allow me to close by saying, “I love you all.” May God bless you and be with you.