Dear you,
I came here today to share with you some thoughts about a very common word – LOVE. Everybody must have heard that word at least once. The phrase “I love you” can be seen in songs, books, movies… in the Western culture, this phrase can even be used as a synonym for “thank you very much”. However, despite being a very well known word, what does it really mean?
Briefly searching for its definition in a dictionary, I found the following: “strong affection for another, using kinship or personal ties; attraction based on sexual desire; affection based on admiration, benevolence or common interests; warm attachment, enthusiasm or devotion”. In the Bible, however, we can find a much deeper definition: “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).
Watching movies and series that talk about love, it is very clear that people are used to that kind of love that cares about its own benefits. In front of questions, such as “Why do you love that person?” or “Why do you want to find love?”, some people have a tendency to give answers, like “Because I want to be happy”, “Because I want to be complete”, “Because I want somebody who is willing to be by my side through the ups and downs of life” or “Because I can be myself around that person”. Don’t get me wrong! It is good when we can find someone who is willing to be with us no matter what, who is willing to share the burdens of life with and, in the end of a tough day, can make us laugh. However, what will happen to you if you do not find that person? Why should you put all of your expectations about love and happiness on finding that amazing person that has supernatural gifts to make you happy forever?
On commemorative days, such as Valentine’s Day or White Day, there is a lot of appeal around that kind of love, making you feel unhappy or unloved if you have not got that special someone. However, I am here to show you a new perspective about love. Love, in those verses of 1 Corinthians 13, can be translated to the Greek word agape. This kind of love always seeks the well being of the other. It is a choice, rather than a feeling or an attraction as is the love commonly referred to. It is a love that endures the test of time and frustrations. In the agape kind of love, also known as sacrificial love, one of the parties is much more focused on the other, willing to give its own life if necessary. In other words, it requires faithfulness, commitment and sacrifice, without expecting anything in return.
In front of a definition of love such as this, you may be thinking how amazing it would be to be loved by this kind of love; you may even be wondering if you will ever find someone that loves you like this. Fortunately, I have an honest answer to your question! And I do not need to be a fortune teller to answer this! Yes, I know someone who has already loved you with the kind of love. He is God. The book of John, chapter 3, verse 16, says: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”. I love that verse! God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to die on the cross for us; so that we could have a new chance of life.
This is the utmost example of sacrificial love! Before you could even think about loving God, He had already given His own Son to die for your life. Not even mattering if you would accept or understand the thoroughness of that act, He gave Himself to you. Jesus sacrificed His life for you, regardless of whether you deserved it. Romans 5:8 says that “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”. God showed His love through His actions. And it was not a “simple death”; He died to give you a new perspective, a new purpose of life. Sacrificial love is not about receiving; it is about giving. It gives first without thinking if it will receive something later.
You do not need to feel incomplete because you do not have someone to share your life with; you do not need to feel unhappy because you are not dating anyone. Jesus made you complete when He died on the cross for you. You do not need to feel unloved; I am here to tell you that God loved you even before you were born. And He still loves you. And He will always love you. The love of God never fades; it never runs out. The love of God is always there for you. Just believe in this love. You just have to accept this love. Just allow yourself to feel loved by this amazing love. And you will see His love filling you up, entirely, completely, helping you in every aspect of your life.
I am here to tell you that there is a love that is much stronger and deeper than the one we see in movies. It is the love of God. And you can enjoy it.
With love,
Tamie Kashiwakura