what is love ?

[arunangelo]

Love is not a feeling or emotion; it is a person; and that person is Jesus (John 4:8). To love, therefore, is to put on Jesus-that is to do and think as Jesus did. He did not condemn us, did not feel sorry for himself when he carried his cross and hung on it to die; instead he was concerned about the sufferings our sins would bring us. Furthermore, he compensated for our offenses we committed against him; and prayed for us so that his joy may be ours. We may find it extremely hard to do what he did. However, if we love him we should do it out of pure love for him, and out of obedience to his command. We must therefore, swallow our own pride and pray for those who hurt us and do good deeds for them. Then his Spirit working in us will heal our heart and we will be able to love those we hate and restore broken relationship. This will turn our bitterness and self-pity into love, hope and joy. A simple prayer we can pray for those we hate or those who hate us, is, “Come Lord Jesus, fill (name of the person) with your Holy Spirit and kindle in him/her the Father’s love”. We can also say the same prayer for our self.

[Indueseason]

You can't hate who you pray earnestly for! Praise God, that He helps us forgive and move on through our obedience to pray for our enemies!

blessings to you

[Vhayes]

This is one of the best posts I've read in awhile.

Thank you and may you be blessed many times over for the blessing you have brought me this day.

[lovex]

I agree with you ^ . To be reminded of Christ's love is what we need daily. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Especially love.

[poorinspirit]

Love is not a feeling or emotion; it is a person; and that person is Jesus (John 4:8).

Paul did define what love is and what it is not in 1 Corinthians 13th chapter.

1 Corinthians 13: 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth:...

But you are right in that sense because Jesus never fails us. As it is, love does not seek her own. but the good of the other: love does not boast nor is prideful of its love towards anyone, not even towards God because.....

1 John 4:19We love him, because he first loved us.

To love, therefore, is to put on Jesus-that is to do and think as Jesus did.

We place our confidence in the Lord to finish His work in us, but yes: putting on Jesus Christ and not making any prvbision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof is to deny ourselves in seeking to please ourselves, but to please God first and others second.

He did not condemn us, did not feel sorry for himself when he carried his cross and hung on it to die; instead he was concerned about the sufferings our sins would bring us. Furthermore, he compensated for our offenses we committed against him; and prayed for us so that his joy may be ours. We may find it extremely hard to do what he did. However, if we love him we should do it out of pure love for him, and out of obedience to his command.

For those that find it "hard", since we love because He first loved us, we can always turn to Jesus to supply us with the fruit of love.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:....9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

We must therefore, swallow our own pride and pray for those who hurt us and do good deeds for them. Then his Spirit working in us will heal our heart and we will be able to love those we hate and restore broken relationship. This will turn our bitterness and self-pity into love, hope and joy.

Loving our enemies will require us leaning on the Lord Jesus Christ to have the love we need to turn the other cheek as well as guidance as to when and how He would lead us to show that Christ's love. Sometimes, He will lead us to wait for that moment.

A simple prayer we can pray for those we hate or those who hate us, is, “Come Lord Jesus, fill (name of the person) with your Holy Spirit and kindle in him/her the Father’s love”.

Since they will only receive the promise of the Spirit at their salvation, then pray that the Father may reveal His Son to them and believe.

John 6: 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Yes: when we see something as hard in following Jesus, that is when we surrender and trust Him to do His work in us so we can do the things He has "commanded" us to do which is to love one another, even our enemies.

We can also say the same prayer for our self.

There is no need to ask God to fill ourslves up with the Spirit since the Spirit is fulfilling His role as the Comforter by dwelling within us always so that Jesus Christ can keep His promise of being with us always as He and even the Father is in us as well, testifying to the newly reconciled relationship with God through Jesus Christ that God is with us. That is the testimony of the saved in Christ, even for those that believed in His name.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you....23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

But we can ask the Lord Jesus for the fruit of love, especially when we find none in ourselves or in our flesh to give at the moment.

[Colin]

You feel that experience when you are all around in which exclusive somebody or perhaps when you happen to be thinking about these. Most of these powerful emotions might be regarding affection, attraction in addition to satisfaction. In ways, it is similar to almost all 3 these emotions rolled up in to one excellent feelings. Some people feel very wonderful if they encounter that.