John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8Â Â Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 1 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;
John 15:13  “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
NASB TranslationÂ
I spent many hours in my life thinking about love, what is it, how do you describe it? do you feel it? is it an emotion? How do I know if I love someone? As I was growing up in my family’s dysfunctional environment, there wasn’t much love expressed by almost all family members. I am not saying they did not love, but I did not feel it, or recognize it at my young age. Frankly I didn’t even think about it, things either went well, or bad for me, and the bad I quickly got over, at least as far as I knew then. Like most people, I am sure I carried a lot of baggage with me into my later life. Most people I asked the question of, what is love, seemed to have as difficult a time answering the question as I did. Many said, it is an emotion, you just feel it. One thing I have learned is, true love is demonstrated in some way. The ultimate demonstration of Love is, God’s love for us. He sent His Son to die for me, and everyone else also, if we will just receive His love as instructed by Him. Paul in 1 Corinthians gives me the answer of how love should be manifested in me. If 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a test of my love for others, I am nowhere near 100% yet, but God is still working on me. The Bible tells when I am with Him I will be like Him. Jesus, in John 15:13 gives me the ultimate test of my love for Him, and others.
I pray if God gives me the opportunity to make my ultimate demonstration of love for Him and others I will pass the test.