What is love?

Really. Think about it. What do you mean when you say to someone, "I love you"? What are you saying? What does it mean to love someone; to love others? I'm a Christian and am looking to know what "love" really is... I want to truly love God with all my heart and I'm looking to do that... what it really means... Is it just a feeling? and affection for another person or God? Is it complete devotiion to another person? (explain what it means too) Is it putting the object of your love before yourself? this is a really gray area and I am really looking to know what love is. God has put it upon my heart to love others but I cant do that without really knowing what love is. Serious genuine answers only please... fellow believers please pray for me too... Thanks

What is love?
Love of God - is characterized not by mere sentiment or feeling but by action. we pursue love, we love in deed and truth (1 corinthians 12:3, 14:1, 1john 3:18). love of God impels us to do what is pleasing to Him, defend and uphold His Sovereignty, again in words and deeds. we thus avoid loving the world with its ungodly influence, we hate what is bad, and love what is good. ijohn5:3 "this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments and yet his commandments are not burdensome"


love of God also involves love of neighbour, which is included in your first question. 1 corinthians 13:4Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. again it involves action


there is a difference between love of others in general, love of individuals as friends, or the love one shows to his/her mate. any more questions, email me.
Reply:Love is as strong of emotion as hate, but not the opposite
Reply:Think of love as a verb rather than a feeling.
Reply:love (lv)


n.


1. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.


2. A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.


3.


a. Sexual passion.


b. Sexual intercourse.


c. A love affair.


4. An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.


5. A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.


6. An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.


7.


a. A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.


b. The object of such an enthusiasm: The outdoors is her greatest love.


8. Love Mythology Eros or Cupid.


9. often Love Christianity Charity.


10. Sports A zero score in tennis.


v. loved, lov·ing, loves


v.tr.


1. To have a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward (a person): We love our parents. I love my friends.


2. To have a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward (a person).


3. To have an intense emotional attachment to: loves his house.


4.


a. To embrace or caress.


b. To have sexual intercourse with.


5. To like or desire enthusiastically: loves swimming.


6. Theology To have charity for.


7. To thrive on; need: The cactus loves hot, dry air.


v.intr.


To experience deep affection or intense desire for another.


Idioms:


for love


Out of compassion; with no thought for a reward: She volunteers at the hospital for love.


for love or money


Under any circumstances. Usually used in negative sentences: I would not do that for love or money.


for the love of


For the sake of; in consideration for: did it all for the love of praise.


in love


1. Deeply or passionately enamored: a young couple in love.


2. Highly or immoderately fond: in love with Japanese painting; in love with the sound of her own voice.


no love lost


No affection; animosity: There's no love lost between them.





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[Middle English, from Old English lufu; see leubh- in Indo-European roots.]


Synonyms: love, affection, devotion, fondness, infatuation


These nouns denote feelings of warm personal attachment or strong attraction to another person. Love is the most intense: marrying for love.


Affection is a less ardent and more unvarying feeling of tender regard: parental affection.


Devotion is earnest, affectionate dedication and implies selflessness: teachers admired for their devotion to children.


Fondness is strong liking or affection: a fondness for small animals.


Infatuation is foolish or extravagant attraction, often of short duration: lovers blinded to their differences by their mutual infatuation
Reply:There are many "kinds" of love and sadly the English language is very inadequate in differentiating among the various types. The one you refer to AGAPE is the Christian love. Philia is the love between friends and eros is the love between two mutually attracted individuals.
Reply:2 John 1:6


And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Reply:Here is what comes to mind. Many words have meanings when


spelled in reverse.


Could Love be in relation to the process of (evol)ving. From the petty state of only caring about self. And learning to care for others?
Reply:Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more!(8)
Reply:1 cor. 13


4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.





5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].





6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.





7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].





8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]
Reply:Read Corinthians
Reply:I think true love in a relationship is what this web site says.





http://www.bayarea.net/~fonniepi/sharing...
Reply:Love is a decision, not a feeling. Actually there are 3 kinds of love; euros, philo and agape. Agape is the unconditional love, brotherly love that we all should strive for in loving each other. Its the way Christ loves us. Euros love is "erotic" love. Philos love is "conditional" love.


We cannot love others until we love ourselves. Remember Jesus said that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.


Once the Lord is our all in all, filling us completely with love and joy and peace, those things cannot help but to pour out of us as we show love to others; the Love of Christ. Love is the greatest commandment. Faith, Hope and Love. And the greatest of these is Love!
Reply:This hit me the other day.


I have been married for 16 years. The last 8 have been happy. After my husband and I gave our lives to Christ we changed in many ways. ONe was toward each other.


We are not as selfish.


When I realized we both were happier and sacrificial it hit me. Love is sacrificial. God sent his son to be sacrificed for us=love!!


Wow, blow me over with a feather!!!