Romans 5:8, New International Version

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Love is a beautiful gift. Love—how do we explain love from a human standpoint? Some say it’s a feeling. Some say it is an emotion. Some say it is an action. But what is love really? What does love look like? We all want to be loved and feel loved. We want a safe place to land when things get hard and to know that no matter the situation, that love won’t fade, it won’t change, it won’t be conditional.

In our search for love we find that love is multifaceted. The Bible tells us this, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NIV) How does this scripture verse show multifaceted love?

When Christ went to the cross, He went as the perfect sacrifice without blemish or spot. He set His face as flint, and with courage and steadfastness, He completed the work our Father sent Him to do. He died in our place, taking on our sin and shame. He knew that His death would be our victory. He knew that taking our shame and sin would, in turn, make us the righteousness of God. It was His love; the love of our Father, and the love of our Savior that redeemed us from total destruction and damnation. It’s His love that brings forgiveness and empowers us to forgive. It’s His love that empowers us to love because He first loved us. It's His love that transforms a life from total destruction to a beautiful masterpiece. It’s His love that takes away our fears and replaces them with a truth that makes us steadfast in hope and confident of the future.

Love is our greatest teacher. Love makes us a better person. Love equips us for life and the situations we may come up against. Love is our anchor that keeps us secure. In 1 John 3:18 (NIV) we are told, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Actions speak louder than words. Let us love one another with genuine affection. Let our actions show that we love because He first loved us. Let us share the light and love of Christ so that we may encourage one another and strengthen one another to keep fighting this good fight of faith! Because, as the Bible tells us, the greatest of these is love and love never fails.