A Rewrite From 2018 On Love

 A couple years ago, I wrote a blog post entitled Love: Christ or Aphrodite. I am rewriting or revamping a blog post mainly because of two things: First, I have grown in my theology, and second, Joshua Harris is no longer a follower of Christ. I have multiple other reasons that will be expressed as I write this post.

Love is a word in the English language that gets tossed about and used wrongly so much. I would say I am guilty of doing this myself. We say we love one thing or another that really isn't deserving of love. Example: I love pizza. Pizza does not deserve my love, nor should, even though it is a food I thoroughly enjoy. It is delicious, but I can't say I absolutely love it. 

I will start out with a biblical definition to love, starting with a more well-known passage.

***Note: There is a broader context to this passage than just love, but love is important in understanding this passage. 

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I have wrestled with what love is and how it is shown for the last five years of my life. When I was eighteen and started dating my ex-boyfriend, I thought I had an idea of what love was, and to be honest, even though I knew the love of Christ, I did not know how to love a person outside my family. The love I had for him did not fully reflect the Christ-like love I knew. I was quite the opposite. I loved him selfishly and not selflessly. I praise God for the growth he has caused in me since this relationship. Now granted, loving people is far more than a romantic relationship.  

Love is washing the disciple's feet, already knowing that one was going to betray you. 

Love is dying on a cross for the whole world's sin.

Love is self-sacrificing and will require humility. I can think of no more excellent example than the one Jesus sets for us in John 13. This passage really helped me understand what love looked like in a practical sense towards people  who had wronged me which is something I have had to wrestle with in the last few months with a particular situation in my life. It has been a hard medication to take. 

In John 13, we see that Jesus washes the disciples feet  in  humility knowing that His disciples would forsake him. That is love. It is washing one another's feet whether your trust is betrayed or not.  

I am still wrestling with this, not with Christ's example, but how can I live this out practically in my day to day? How do I love someone when they have hurt me?   When I do I might write a part two. 

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2