Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about love. Everyone talks about it, sings about it, hashtags it. But the Lord has been impressing on my heart that love isn’t just one more value among many; it’s supposed to be my North Star. It’s the yardstick by which every word and action is measured. When I pursue love, I’m not chasing a feeling or ticking off a command — I’m walking according to the Spirit. Because God is love, and walking in love is walking in Him.
But what does that actually look like?
More Than a Feeling
When we say “love” in everyday life, we often mean emotion. You feel a warm pull when soft piano music plays. Put on silly music and the “feeling” evaporates. Our culture has romanticized love as a mood, a vibe, a tug in the heart.
Scripture paints a very different picture. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is described as patient, kind, not self-seeking, not easily angered. Love perseveres. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. That’s not a fleeting emotion. That’s a way of being.
And if you want love personified, you don’t have to look far. It’s Jesus. Everything Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 is a description of Him.
The Hardest Question
Here’s the question that stopped me: Would you die for them? Not just for your spouse, your kids, or your parents — most of us would instinctively protect our family. But what about a random stranger? Someone in your church who disagrees with you? Someone you correct or debate? Would you die for them?
That’s the yardstick Jesus used. He didn’t just love those who agreed with Him; He laid down His life for enemies, for betrayers, for the undeserving. That is the greatest call of love.
Love Is Who We Are
If you’re in Christ, love isn’t something you have to manufacture. It’s your new nature. You were born out of love; you were born of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit begins with love. Faith, hope, and love remain — and the greatest of these is love.
So why do we find it so hard? Because our unrenewed minds, our distractions, our flesh, get in the way. Love is already in you; the challenge is letting it flow out unhindered.
A Yardstick for Everyday Life
This is the test I’m learning to apply: when I’m interacting with someone — speaking truth, correcting, admonishing, even debating — I ask myself, Would I die for them? Because Jesus died for all the people He corrected. He died for those who argued with Him, betrayed Him, mocked Him, and rejected Him. That’s the measure of His love.
I’m not saying I’ve arrived. We’re all growing in this love. But it’s the direction I want to move in. Not love as a passing emotion, but love as a deliberate, sacrificial choice. Not love as a slogan, but love as a life laid down.
Closing Thought
Love is patient, love is kind, and love laid down its life. That’s the love we’re called to — not just for family, but for the flock we shepherd, the neighbour who annoys us, the person who disagrees with us online. Next time you’re tempted to correct, argue, or withdraw, pause and ask: Would I die for them? Let that question soften your heart, renew your mind, and align your actions with the One who first loved us.
Because when we pursue love like that, we’re not just talking about God — we’re walking with Him.
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