I Kissed Dating Goodbye4

A Slap in the Face

The world may define & defend love in these terms, but the Bible offers a very diff perspective. For the person practicing the self-centered, feelings-governed beyond-my-control love of the world, God's definition can be as startling as an unexpected slap in the face.

God always defines love by pointing to His Son,Jesus Christ.This was the only way our sins could be forgiven. The innocent One took the place of the guilty-offered Himself up to death so that we could have eternal life. God's love for a fallen world is most clearly seen in the death of His son on the Cross.

And all who find forgiveness & life thru Jesus are called to follow His steps- Love others becuz He first loved us. (1John4:19)
Christ's antidote to the poison of self-love is the Cross. "If anyone would come after me must deny himself & take up his cross & follow me."

Christ taught that love is not for the fulfillment of self but for the glory of God & the good of others.
True Love is selfless. It gives; it sacrifices; it dies to its own needs.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
He backed up His words with actions-laid down His life for all of us.

Christ also showed that true love is not measured or governed by feelings.
He clearly didn't feel like enduring the beating and hanging on the cross and enduring God's wrath for sin. But He SUBMITTED Himself to His Father's will. Jesus's feeling were not the test of His love nor were they His master.

Christ wants us to have this same attitude.

Good feelings are nice but not necessary.

Jesus' e.g. shows us that LOVE IS UNDER OUR CONTROL. HE CHOSE TO LOVE US, TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US.

We need to throw out the misconception that love is some strange "force" that tosses us around against our will like leaves in the wind.

We cannot justify doing what we know is wrong by saying that love grabbed hold of us and make us behave irresponsibly.
That's NOT love.
Instead, its what the bible calls as "passionate lust".

We express true love in obedience to God & service to others - not reckless or selfish behavior - we choose these behaviors.