Love DefinedSample

God-Defined Love

Without many godly examples of marriage on display, we, as modern women, are struggling to know how to build solid marriages. Our definition of marriage is being patched together from personal experience and/or the culture’s broken examples. To build Christ-centered marriages, we have to dig deeper into God’s original plan for marriage. 

Marriage is a spectacular union created by God Himself. Desiring to get married for God’s glory is a wonderful and biblical desire. Approaching marriage with a selfless heart and gospel lens is the key to building a beautiful, Christ-exalting relationship. 

If you want a husband who will faithfully hold your hand during your most frail years of life, you need to marry a man who understands sacrificial, Christ-centered love. And if you want to faithfully serve and love your husband until his dying breath, you need to understand how to give that kind of love too. 

To truly understand what God-defined love is, we need to look to the Author of love Himself. The Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Since God is literally the definition of love, we can learn how to love by looking at His character and actions. 

According to Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (NIV). Jesus, the King of the universe, sacrificed His life so we could have eternal life. Jesus gave up the glorious perfections of heaven to die a criminal’s death on our behalf. That, right there, is true love. God-defined love is built not on a foundation of self but rather on a foundation of self-sacrifice. 

Jesus put His love on display through His sacrificial actions. True love is an action, not an emotional feeling. The most commonly used word for love in the Bible is the Greek word agape. It’s used 259 times and essentially means “self-sacrifice.” 

For instance, I (Kristen) can tell my husband that I love him until I’m blue in the face, but until I put my love into action, it won’t be believable. Agape love is the foundation for Christ-honoring, lasting relationships. 

God-defined love is beautiful, strong, faithful, and powerful. It is the polar opposite of what our sinful hearts are naturally inclined to give. But through the power of Christ, we have the strength to love others in this way. 

When have you seen agape love in action?