Love is vast and infinite. We are often reminded of God’s unwavering love for us, no matter who we are or how we act. His love for us is so profound that, even when we stray, He patiently waits, hoping that we’ll return to Him. He stands ready to forgive, no matter how many times we falter or fall short. But does that mean we, as humans, cannot show love like this? If we are made in God’s image, it suggests that we are equally capable of expressing this kind of love—both for ourselves and others.

The challenge, however, is that we often love superficial and fleeting things. We are drawn to things of little true value. We value money and power over friendship, connections, and virtues. We sometimes place vice over virtue, deception over integrity, and wickedness over kindness. True love, however, doesn’t come with a price tag.

To love one another genuinely, we must be willing to commit to making sacrifices. Love is not without its pains or challenges; it often involves suffering. But in the midst of pain, we are born and loved. Love brings about transformation, changing us into something better. Love is pure and requires growth. Yet, in today’s world, true love is rare. Too often, we love not for the sake of the other but for what we can gain. Lust, rather than love, seems to dominate, with conditions attached. This makes it harder for us to love others truly. We are constantly focused on ourselves, even when we claim to love others.

While it’s important to love ourselves—because only then can we extend love to others—loving ourselves to the detriment of others becomes a problem. We must strive to see the beauty in those around us, even when it’s not immediately obvious.

At our core, we all yearn for love, to be accepted for who we are, no matter our flaws. It’s part of human nature. To deny the desire for love is to deny our very essence. That’s why we form friendships, relationships, date, and marry—we seek love, and we long to be loved in return. However, when we love with ulterior motives, we end up hurting others, creating a cycle of pain. Love is not something we find through force or searching—it is a gift freely given every day. Even the air we breathe is an act of love.

This is why Christ willingly gave His life for us despite our imperfections. He chose to love us unconditionally, even to death. Love is a gift, and it comes with deep gratitude.

What is love?

• Love is pain.
• Love is selfless.
• Love is sacrifice.
• Love is both giving and receiving.
• Love is kind.
• Love is precious.
• Love is forgiveness.
• Love is not extravagant.
• Love is acceptance.
• Love is being unashamed of who you are.
• Love is connecting with one’s soul.
• Love is not greedy.
• Love encourages openness.
• Love wants others to shine.
• Love is self-giving.
• Love is commitment.
• Love is forsaking oneself.

Am I ready to love?

• To embrace the pain?
• To sacrifice my time?
• To wait, to have faith, and believe?
•  To forsake thyself in obedience?
•  To surrender my freedom and sometimes my will?
•  To yearn and be grateful, even when I don’t fully understand it?

Am I ready to love?

• To forgive and forget?
• To encourage others, even when I, too, need encouragement?
•  To let others shine?
•  To commit and stand firm?
• To connect with others and be selfless in my deeds and actions?
•  To show kindness?

Am I ready to be faithful?

•  To stand by my words and actions?
• To show mercy to others?
• To keep my promises and obligations?
• To be honest in my dealings with others?

Am I ready to lead in fellowship?

•  To lead by example, in humility and simplicity?
•  To accept others for who they are?
• Am I truly prepared to love?

The purest form of love is God’s love. He loves us despite everything we do, even when we hurt Him. Can we love in the same way? In God’s love, there is mercy, faithfulness, goodness, and kindness. His love reflects our creation. That’s why everything He made is beautiful and good. We were never meant to use His creation for evil but to love and bless others. Our bodies, minds, and hearts are meant to be instruments of love, meant to help, to heal, and to bless others.