Perspective
Seeking Love Actually
Nelson Thomas Mumbai
A few years ago, a leading English Newspaper in Mumbai had a special column where all who seek ‘Love Actually’ could give free advertisements. I was stunned to note then that there are so many around us who sincerely long for love and affection. Despite all the advancements on every front, many more are desperately looking for love and affection.
Potential of Love
True love revives, inspires and challenges one to move forward. It builds up relationships and strengthens one another. The discouraged and destitute find new hope in an expression of love, even if it’s just a loving word or look. Love forgets the bad, remembers the good and even covers many mistakes. Yes, love leads to manifold blessings and benefits for all concerned.
The Apostle Paul narrates beautifully,
“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”, (1Cor 13: 4 – 7)
Love is the Answer
Truly there are many who are hurt and desperately longing for love and kindness. Many children do not find love in their parents. Often, parent’s expectations are not fulfilled in children. Friends fail to trust each other. Many incidents of cheating and lying make one think that nobody loves truly.
Amid the present complex lifestyle, a sense of worthlessness and emptiness fills the hearts of many. In despair, they lament, “Unwanted, unaccepted, meaningless life”!!! Some even foolishly find ‘solace’ in suicide as once a young man did after writing, ‘nobody loved me’.
In such a scenario, love is the answer, love is the key. As someone well observed, ‘without air, we can survive for a few minutes, without water and food we can survive for a few days, but without love and acceptance we cannot survive for even a moment’.
Yes, there is enough wealth, education, position and good family connections. Yet people cannot find true love. They end up in frustration. This means that more than anything else, our heart is longing for love and recognition. Even if poverty and sickness fill our days, with true love and affection we can overcome all those issues.
Love or Lust
Alas, many fail to differentiate between the selfish, sinful love of man and the selfless, sacrificial love of God. How frequently do we hear about a ‘lover’ becoming a robber or even a murderer! When they are convinced that their selfish motives are questioned or not fulfilled, they become violent. Then they go to any extent to pour out their anger on a fellow being! It is not love actually; it is just self-centred passion and lust. Such only exploit others for their selfish ambitions.
Divine Love
Basically, ‘true love’ can come only from someone who does not look for love; someone who could be the source of all love. Just like a bankrupt friend cannot help the poor, a man who is seeking love cannot offer love.
That’s why we have to seek love from God, our Creator alone. The Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8c). Love is part of His essential nature. He is a God of love and cannot change His nature (1John 4:8; 2Cor 13:11; 2Tim 2:13). That means, irrespective of our state or even response to God, His love for us is constant, eternal and inseparable (Rom 8:39; Jer 31:3).
Love Manifested
God’s love is not just an emotion or sympathetic words but exhibited in action. Apostle John writes,
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9, 10).
Not only in the incarnation and life of Christ but also His work of salvation on the cross of Calvary is the ultimate evidence of God’s love for fallen man. His perfect sacrifice could atone for sinners and thus all who believe in the atoning work of Christ are forgiven and regenerated (John 3:16; Rom 5:8; Eph 2:4, 5; 1 John 3:1).
Love Within
Not only does God save us in His great love, but He also poured out the love of God into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). It’s the blessed privilege of a born-again child of God to enjoy and experience the divine nature as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That’s why Apostle John makes it very clear that “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar…” (2Pet 1:4; 1John 4:7b, 8, 20b).
Just like many other spiritual exercises and experiences, love too should be a natural lifestyle for a true believer because true Christian life is an outflow of the new life we possess in Christ. Any defect in practical life is because of the defect in the personal life with Christ. As long as we stay close to Christ and walk in the Spirit we will be exhibiting His life and love (John 15:4, 9; 1 John 4:16).
Apostle John rightly affirms that it’s contradictory for a believer to live with hatred and enmity. He emphatically says they are liars, murderers and ignorant of anything divine (1 John 2:9–11; 4:20).
Sin Hinders
Let us sincerely examine our love for the Lord and His people. Is it just a human affection that is deep-rooted in ego and sin? We may suppose that no one around us will know the bitterness and hatred we keep in our hearts against a fellow being. But remember, slowly and surely what is stored in our hearts comes out.
A habitual sinful life of any kind demands a sincere examination of our calling and conversion. Remember, any form of evil disturbs and hinders a believer’s walk with the Lord and his love for one another.
Living a holy life in close communion with the Lord is imperative for exhibiting Christian love in this hurting world. Then alone our life and testimony will be refreshing and comforting for the many who seek love. G&P
