Love is all around us. There are depictions of love and descriptions of love. There is talk of love and songs about love. There are sooooo many songs about love. But what are we talking about when we talk about love? We use love to describe food we eat and beverages we drink. We use love to describe activities and hobbies. We use love to describe shows and stories. We use love to describe places and people.

I’m not too concerned with getting us to change our vocabulary, per se, but when it comes to HOW we love God and love others, my prayer is that we are always growing to have a deeper understanding and practice so that our love looks more and more like the love of Jesus. That’s our repeated instruction in scripture. “Love each other as I have loved you (John 15:12).”

That’s a raised bar, whole new level of love. That goes beyond my appreciation for a good-piece-of-dark-chocolate kind of love. That’s deeper than fickle, here today, gone tomorrow kind of love. That’s riskier than love that is always gauging if another person is reciprocating in the exact same way.

As we launch into our new series, “Love Is…” every week we will recite together and explore the wide array of attributes of real, abiding, godly love listed in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.

In addition, many weeks we will have the privilege to hear brief testimonies about stories and examples of love as members of all ages share how God has revealed love to them. If you have a story to tell, let me know. God has something to share through you! And please join us in prayer that we would all grow in the love our world so desperately needs.