What does true love look like?

The Bible says that Jesus is God-in-the-flesh. The Bible says that God is love.

To say it another way:

Jesus = God
God = love
Jesus = love

Here are some descriptive words to show us what true love looks like:

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4-8‬)

Here is a way to think of these verses, replacing the word “love” with “God” (remember, God = love) …

God is patient,
God is kind.
God does not envy,
God is not boastful,
God is not conceited,
God does not act improperly,
God is not selfish,
God is not provoked, and
God does not keep a record of wrongs.
God finds no joy in unrighteousness but
God rejoices in the truth.
God bears all things,
God believes all things,
God hopes all things,
God endures all things.
God never ends.

Jesus is the perfect example of these characteristics. Read the stories of Jesus’ life in the Bible and you will notice how He shows amazing love to people.

How about you? Take the list above and substitute your name. Are you patient? Are you kind? Work through the list, and let God show you the areas where you are strong and those areas where you need to grow.

Ask God to make you more loving in all of these ways, and as He does, show that love others. For example, if patience is something you ask God to help you work on, maybe a simple prayer like this will help you:

“Dear Heavenly Father, you are always patient. I am not. I want to show love to others, and I know that being patient is one way to show love to them. Help me to be patient with all people. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, and guide me. In this way, you will be honored through my love, and others will sense my love for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”