Certainly, there remain many human definitions of love. Some consider love a mere feeling, that unfortunately can change. It rises and falls like the tide along a sea shore.
Others see love as purely emotional. While it’s true that feelings are at play in this kind of love, this type of “feel good” love revolves around “what makes me happy.” Rooted in selfishness flawed by sin, if circumstances change, such love quickly vanishes and can even transform into hatred.
While God-pleasing love affects the feelings and touches the emotions, it’s grounded in commitment. We witness examples of such steadfast love throughout the Bible. In Acts, love for souls compels Christians to share the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness to lost souls, even to enemies who reject God’s gospel. In Revelation, John assures Jesus’ saving-love outcome for our Lord’s faithful.
Finally, John, characterized as God’s “apostle of love,” emphasizes how Jesus demonstrated perfect, committed love. Such self-sacrificing love moved our Jesus to save unlovable sinners. Moreover, as forgiven sinners value Jesus’ saving love, His love compels us to share Christlike love as we interact with others.