I love you!

Those three little words that everyone loves to hear, I really want to focus on love and what it actually is. When people say I love you what do they mean. Do they mean I am fond of you, do they mean i care for you, do they mean i'd give up my life just to make sure that you survive...

I think that the phrase I love you is carelessly thrown around to make others feel better, more secure, more important. But in all reality we love ourselves and i think we sometimes say it in order to receive it. Sometimes we feel so unloved that we are longing for anyone to show us "love" and give us affirmation.

I recently did a pole on fb to see what people thought the word love meant. I got a variety of answers... there were a few that i really liked....
I love you means that I accept you for the person that you are, and that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times. It means loving you even when you’re in a bad mood, or too tired to do the things I want to do. It means loving you when you’re down, not just when you’re fun to be with. “I love you” means that I know your deepest secrets and do not judge you for them, asking in return that you do not judge me for mine. It means that I care enough to fight for what we have and that I love you enough not to let go. It means thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting and needing you constantly, and hoping you feel the same way for me!


Love is an attachment that comes from deeply appreciating another's goodness. A bond that connects you into a unified link of trust, intimacy and interdependence. Love is like a force of nature, you can't command love, demand love or make it disappear. Love can't be turned on as a reward or shut off as a punishment. You can not buy love! Love is patient, love us kind, it has no envy nor jealousy and should not be boastful!

Those were some really great answers. Now what does the bible say about love? How does God love us? How are we suppose to love others?

Well the first verse that probably comes to your mind is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everylasting life". Thats an amazing kind of love, I don't know anyone that would sacrifice a child to save someone, even if they love them. How about Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That tells me that He loved us even when we were hating God, against God, rejecting God. Think about how hard it is to love someone who acts hateful to us.
Romans 8:37-39:  ^"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I think thats its very clear that when the Lord says "I Love You". He means I love you! Here are two more verses that you can look up: gal 2:20 and 1John 3:1.  I think maybe that is why sometimes its hard to believe when God says " I love you" Because we are going by how the world uses the word. We have a hard time believing that He does because we have heard it so many times before. Just remember that this love that the Lord has for us is perfect unconditional love, we can't do anything to earn it and nothing "bad" we do breaks it. Its really important to remember that even when we let God down he loves us all the same, just like we still love our kids when they disobey. Our love for them isn't altered in anyway cause they misbehave. 


We are commanded to love each other. Even when its hard, or we feel like they don't deserve it. These are a few verses that I like about loving each other..
Romans 13:8
Gal: 5:12
Eph 4:2
1 peter 1:22
1 john 4:7
Proverbs 17:17

I have been very convicted lately about the way that I love others. I don't think I have it right. I say I love them sure, but am i doing what God says and loving them in deeds and not words? (1john 3:18) Am i loving people to my standards or am I trying to love them based on Gods? My measuring stick for my life needs to be the same stick that God uses. Not one that the world uses. Lets try to love others in the way that god intended and who knows we may even get it back. This bible verse that I am sure we have all heard many times is a great "measuring stick"...
 1 Corinthians 13:4-8  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.


As for me I know this is an area that i struggle in. Its easy to say hey buddy love you or honey I love you or yes child I love you but do we? Next time we are about to say I love you to someone whether its a spouse, friend, neighbor, etc lets remember that it is a very important phrase and should hold great meaning. Lets go out there and love each other the way God has loved us, through trials and tribulations, disappointments, hurt feelings, anger, and frustration. Lets love others sacrificially!