I Want To Know What Love Is
By Karen Makishima, Director of Ohana Ministries
I know I am showing my age but I love the song I Want To Know What Love Is by Foreigner. The lyrics go on to say “I want to know what love is; I want you to show me. I want to feel what love is; I know you can show me.”
We are all on this quest looking for love. But if you are like me, at times I forget where love is, and I find myself searching for it in places that leave me feeling empty. I look for love in wanting to please others, or I look for love in wanting to be the best.
I want to know what love is. 1 John 4:7-8 tells us where love is found: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
I love how the verse starts out with Beloved. When I can truly grasp that I am my Beloved’s and He is mine ONLY then can I even begin to love others well.
This verse states that love is reciprocal. It can’t be one way with just me on the receiving end. God’s design is that He loves us and we love Him back. God’s essence is love. He demonstrated the depths of His love for us by sending His one and only perfect Son to die for our sins. As a result of this love, we now can live forever with our holy heavenly Father.
God’s love requires action. The world will know that we are His children by our love for one another because God’s children reflect His character. The people whom I know how to love well are those who truly reflect God’s character. I see in them the fruit of His Spirit––love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.
I am still learning how to love well. I know what love is and where I can find it. God has showed me.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us what love is. Help us to grasp how deep Your love is for us. We want to reflect who You are in our homes, neighborhoods, and community. Please show us how to love well. Amen
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