What is Love? The Heart Behind Love
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Pastor Daniel asked: What is love?
Though we often think we know, he shared how his understanding of love has changed through life stages.
As a child, love meant getting what he wanted.
In high school, after meeting Jesus, love was unconditional acceptance.
In college, it became devotion expressed through service.
When he met his wife, love was affection and commitment.
As a new parent, love felt natural and selfless.
But as a pastor, he realized love isn’t always easy—it requires patience.
This journey shows that our view of love is often shaped by life experiences and can be incomplete.
Last week, we learned that love is expressed through giving. But as 1 Corinthians 13:3 shows, giving without love means nothing. It’s not just about the action, it’s about the heart behind it.
So, what did God give us? John 3:16 says He gave His Son, not for Himself, but for us. This reveals God’s love is selfless.
Even in hardship (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28), God's intent remains the same: our hope, our future, our good.
When we understand God’s loving intent, we can trust Him—even when things don’t go our way.
Pastor Daniel closed by challenging us to examine our own hearts: Do we love with the same selfless intent as God? True love puts others’ good before our own satisfaction.
Reflection Questions:
1. How has your understanding of love changed over the years?
2. Do you find it difficult to trust God’s love when life doesn’t go your way? Why or why not?
3.How might you practice intentional love this week—not just doing kind things, but doing them with the right heart?
