We use the word “love” in some pretty interesting ways.  I can say that I love Mexican food and that I love my wife.  Same word, totally different meanings.

The New Testament uses a few different words for love ranging in meaning from a utilitarian love to an unconditional sacrificial love.  One thing I have come to notice, however, about love in the New Testament is that it rarely, if ever, speaks of love as an emotion.  New Testament love is always an attitude that results in definitive action.

The NT employs other words that encompass the emotion that we often call love – words such as affection, loving kindness, and the ever popular KJV “bowels.”  “Love” in the New Testament seems to always indicate something more objective.

The qualities listed 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – that chapter to which we ascribe love’s definition – describe attitudes and actions, not feelings and emotion.  If I love, I AM patient and kind.  If I love, I naturally behave with certain actions like rejoicing with the object of my love, not keeping score of their shortcomings, etc.  These are attitudes and actions.  Other places in the NT teach us to DEMONSTRATE love rather than encouraging us to FEEL love.

During this week that culminates Friday with Valentine’s Day, many of us will be thinking about love.  My challenge to you this week is to be intentional in demonstrating love.  Look at that list in 1 Corinthians 13 again and choose one or two of those qualities to practice toward others each day this week.  Don’t be content “feeling” love.  That is selfish.  Show your love by your attitudes and actions toward your family, friends, co-workers, and those you meet along your way.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:18