LOVE IS A VERB
by Jim Kaness

Those of us who speak English regularly know that the word “love” has many different meanings. We “love” hot dogs or we “love” baseball and so on, meaning we really enjoy those things.

Then there are the deeper emotions, especially those involving the opposite sex. We say I “love” him or her meaning we find pleasure in their company, or get weak in the knees when we see that person.

But when Jesus used the word “love” he was not talking about our emotions. He was talking about our physical actions.

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [Matthew 5:44]

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. [Luke 6:35]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. [John 15:13]

In the above examples we are commanded to “pray”, to “do good and lend”, and to “lay down our life (die for)“ another person. To love someone this way means to write a check for them, to spend our time and talent helping them, or even offering our own life that theirs might be spared. One of the hardest things to do might be to put up with (cope with) their difficult attitude, personality or other traits while we are trying to help them physically.

Jesus did not say this would be easy! He said we should do it anyway.