Can This Be Love?

"Dave and Heidi didn't mean to make out with each other on their first date. Really. Dave doesn't have "only one thing in mind", and Heidi isn't "that kind of girl". It just happened. They had gone to a concert together and afterward watched a movie at Heidi's house. During the movie, Heidi made a joke about Dave's attempt at dancing during the concert. He started tickling her. Their playful wrestling suddenly stopped when they found themselves staring into each other's eyes as Dave was leaning over her on the living room floor. They kissed. It was like something out of a movie. It felt so right." (I Kissed Dating Goodbye) Could it be love? Just because lips have collided mean heart have entwined? And just because two bodies are drawn to each other mean they are right for each other? Most young people who have not reach the level of emotional stability confirmed love this way. Others believe love is a feeling. Just because we can feel it, we think its love. Physical attraction and passionate feelings doesn't equate love. What then is the true meaning of love? How can we know if it is love? The world defines love in quite measurable terms, but God's word sees it in a far different perspective. The truest and most profound meaning of love was written in God's word. God's word directs and guides us to the greatest expression of love, Jesus Christ. Throughout the Bible, God taught us three foundations of love. First, love is not for the fulfilment of self but for the glory of God and the good of others. True love is selfless. It means seeking and doing God's will for your life and serving others whole-heartedly. When you're truly in love, you think of the things that please God and could answer the needs of others than yourself. You give and sacrifice. In John 15: 13, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends". Second, true love is not measured or governed by feelings. We cannot solely trust our feelings because at times, it may lie to us. It does not guarantee that when someone cares a lot for you, he loves you. If a man feels love for the street children yet never do anything to help them, what are his feelings worth? They may benefit him, but if his actions don't convey love, his feelings mean nothing. So, what governs true love? True love always expresses itself in obedience to God and service to others. If we submit to God, and let Him control our lives, it will be easier to love others and to discern true love. Third, love is under our control. It's a misconception that love is a strong passion that causes us to act in a certain way we don't like. Love is also a decision we make and it's under our control. Just like what Jesus did, He chose to love us and lay down His love for us on the cross. He might choose not to die on the cross yet, he loves us more than Himself. That's the true meaning of love! Love isn't just express passionately through soft-spoken words or a kiss or a tight embrace. Before two people are married, love is expressed in self-control, patience and faithfulness. It waits for the right time to commit to God's quality of love--- steadfast, never-ending and selfless. While waiting for that time, let us seek God continuously and do His will for our lives. Let us enjoy the things life has to offer now in the light of His grace and when the right time comes, you can say with confidence "this is love!" rather than asking, "can this be love?"