Love from a Pure Heart

Real love doesn't always feel good. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Sometimes love says no. That doesn't feel good.

Love often has to allow people to bear the responsibility of their own actions. Love many times has to relinquish, to let go (even the thing they love). Love doesn't overwhelm the other person that is loved -- it doesn't smother, or control.

The bottom line for real love is that it desires what is best for the one loved, many times at the expense of self. Some important questions to ask:

• Do you know what is best for the person you "love"?
• Who does know?
• Is it possible that YOU are not best for the other person?
• Is encouraging a person to go beyond their convictions, or to be in a place of temptation, is this best for them?

The Opposite of Love
The opposite of the FEELING of love is hate. But the opposite of genuine love is SELFISHNESS. So many romantic relationships are built on each persons "neediness" or wants or selfishness. This leads to a very shaky relationship.

"Love does not seek its own" 1 Corinthians 13

Many times love is demonstrated through selfless acts, sacrificial acts. The true measure of true love is NOT how strong the feelings are, but how great a sacrifice is willing to be endured for the other person.