Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
What is love? Some of you may have had that song going through your head just now—and I'm not going to sing it. Let’s get right into our Verse of the Day.
It comes from 1 John chaper 4, verse 10. It says, "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."
What Kids Say About Love
I love watching videos of little kids answering the question, what is love? I was actually watching some a few days ago. Here are some of the things they said. One said, "Over a gazillion stuff." I just love that. A few other things the kids said: Helping people, even when you don't want to. Giving stuff away that you really, really like—especially toys. Sharing a toy with someone who wants it. Smiling and saying good things about them. Playing with someone on the playground who doesn't have anyone else to play with. Hugging your mom and helping her wash the dishes. Giving them a kiss on the head while they sleep. Being nice and not mean. It's a feeling. Love smells like flowers. Love feels like butterflies.
Isn't that wonderful? It's just their lens, their perspective—based on how they feel, or what a behavior is, or an action.
Our Definition vs. God's Definition
Even though this is through a child's lens and it's so cute, most of their responses are based on their own observations, their own experiences, their own feelings. When we look at this verse, I want to propose something. When it comes to the love of God, as much as we look at a child defining what love is, the immense, unconditional vastness of God's love far surpasses our understanding of what real love is. Sometimes we think we have a really good handle on what love is. But unfortunately, we allow our real-life definition of love to be shaped by good or bad experiences we've had in relationships, and that's what we allow to define love for us. Or we allow the societal definition of love, the cultural definition, or what the world defines as love to shape our understanding.
If there's nothing else you take away from this devotional time, I want you to grasp this: just as much as we look at a child's definition of love and think, oh, that's cute, or, well, they haven't had many experiences yet—compared to God's love, we may have the very same limited or not entirely accurate perception of what love really is. We have to trust that God's love is the perfect love. God's love is the real love.
Look for This Love Throughout Scripture
I encourage you to take time and look all throughout Scripture to see the love of God, to seek out the love of God. A lot of times people think that God in the Old Testament is harsh and unloving, and that the God of the New Testament with Jesus is all full of love. But actually, it's all throughout Scripture.
As you read the Word of God, look for this love—this real love that's defined in this verse. God's love is so deep that He didn't suddenly change throughout all eternity. He didn't suddenly change when He allowed Jesus to come to the earth to die for us. It was the same love—this real love. If we are able to understand this real love being poured into us, how much more we can actually overflow and give out to the world real, godly love.
I would just encourage you to spend some time with Him today. Experience His love, and allow His true, real love to pour into you, so that you understand what kind of love we can pour out into others in our relationships. Allow Him to define what love is.