How would you define love?

Yesterday Megan C. asked me what I thought love was. An interesting question, to be sure with all the weddings and engagements that seem to be abounding these days. To define abstract qualities or emotions is always a difficult task. I've been thinking about this question and I've decided that I think love is a commitment to pursue someone. If we look at 1 Corinthians 13, we see what exactly perfect love does, or does not do:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I think that love is a commitment to pursue someone through patience, through kindness, through not envying, through not boasting, through not acting in pride. We can pursue someone through not being rude to them and by seeking their best, not growing angry with them, not keeping a record of when they mess up. Our love will pursue people through delighting in truth and goodness. Our love will protect, be trustworthy, hopeful, and persevering. It will pursue because it will never fail.

The amazing thing is that Jesus loves us just like that. The Bible goes even as far to say that "God is love."

We have intense waves of true love pouring out to us.