Real Love

"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."  1 John 4:10

Are you in a loving relationship?

People tend to define loving relationships in different ways.  To some, a loving relationship is one in which they are treated with kindness and respect.  To others, it is a give and take in which each person meets the other's needs.  Still others picture the Cinderella story, Sleeping Beauty, or maybe even Beauty and the Beast.

Since we're in the month in which people contemplate love and romance, I thought it only fitting that we talk about what the Holy Bible says about love--real love.  If we want to know what real love looks like, we need only look to God's Word.  1 Corinthians 13 describes it for us in perfect detail.  

Verses 4-7 tell us, "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 John 4:16 tells us that God is love.  He is the very definition of love.  We can't experience real love apart from Him.

Real love is sacrificial.  John 15:13 tells us, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

And, 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love."

Does your loving relationship look like that?  It does if you're in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Are you still looking for your own version of Prince Charming?  He's already come for you.  And, the glass slipper He's holding?  It's just your size.

Once upon a time, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life."  John 3:16

Now that's living happily ever after.

Goodnight, Runners.