Love?

In this modern world we live in, we have lost sight of what love is. It's not what it used to be. I love my parents, God... and chocolate? We certainly have gone crazy if we compare love to chocolate. Which brings us to the question, What is love? Some would say it's a feeling. However that's not quite right, because feelings change, but love doesn't. Is it the romantic mushy-gushy thing we see in movies? I sure hope not! Here's some lyrics from Switchfoot's song Easier than Love that might explain what our world thinks of love:
Everyone's a lost romantic, since our love's become a kissing show

That's all it is, a kind of show, for everyone to see.
That's not what it was supoosed to be. It was supposed to be about commitment and sacrifice, fat chance of that happening anymore. We only have one good example of pure, untainted love, Jesus.
Jesus sacrficed everything he had for love. But it wasn't the mushy-gushy I-just-met-you-two-seconds-ago-and-now-I-want-to-marry-you love. It was, I'll-give-my-life-and-more-for-you love. You see, he didn't just give up his life, he gave up his dignity, his purity, his rightousness, his everything! Yet somehow, we've forgetton it. Maybe because we talk about it so much that it really doesn't seem all that great anymore. Or maybe because we lost sight of what love, real love, is. But it doesn't stop at the cross....
Jesus just didn't come down from heaven, die, and go back without a word. He left instructions for making sure that EVERYONE knows about his amazing extravagent love for us. Once again, we've forgotten, we don't know what love is. Hate and disrespect run ramped. We see it everywhere don't we? It's not what Jesus wanted. He wanted everyone to be loved and everyone to love him. And inorder for this to happen we have to show his love to the world. Show it to everyone, no matter who they are. If you like them, love them. If you don't like them, love them. If they annoy the crap out of you, love them. If they cheat, steal, lie and hate, love them. They are no requirements, no restrictions it's open for all. It doesn't matter, love them. Jesus did, and we're supposed to follow him right? If he did it so can we.
Jesus said that even non-believers will love people they like. But it takes a believer, a follower, to love someone who NO ONE likes.
If we don't love these people who will? And who will tell them of God's love? No one. Which is why we need so desperatly to stand out. Our light can't shine if we're doing what the rest of the world is doing.
So we need to love, love, love, and love. Think about that as Easter comes by, I know I will.

P.S. This doesn't mean you have to buy a Valentine's Day card for everyone in the world.... but a box of chocolates for your favorite blogger would be nice!