How do you demonstrate love? What does it mean to say that you love someone?

When we say that we love someone, we respect them, we desire to be in their presence, we enjoy seeing them happy and we often place their needs before our own. We love them because we can feel and see the love that they have for us in return.

Recall the time when you had your first child and the joys of your eyes meeting theirs. Remember the first glimpse of them and how you examined that child from head to toe- the one hiding in the womb for nine months.

Remember the love you had for your parents growing up? You wanted so much to have their approval and to see them smile. All of your elementary school projects and drawings were images of you with mom or dad. You could not wait to get home to show them what you had made for them in school.

When you love someone or someone loves us, there is PROOF of their love. Love is an action that produces results. It’s not a thought or feeling, it’s concrete and confirmed evidence.

Jesus reminds us a few times, the results or proof of loving Him – IF we truly love Him.

John 14:15 (NKJV)
If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:21 (NKJV) 
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

John 14:23 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

If we look at this verse, loving Jesus is not the same as keeping His word. Loving Jesus comes before keeping His word. In other words, ‘”if you love me, the results will be that you will do what I have asked of you.” Keeping the commands of Jesus is the RESULT of loving Him. The love you have for your Savior means that you admire Him in all His greatness and glory. You are grateful for all that He has done for you. You are satisfied with who He is and what He has done and is doing in your life because you know that He has your best interest at heart. You know that He has no hidden agendas but to introduce you to your Heavenly Father and the love that they share for you. Loving Jesus means that you do not want to offend Him or do anything contrary to what He says to do. Loving Jesus means that you want others to experience this love that you have received and you will do your utmost to deny yourself so that others can see His love shining through you. Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.

What are some of His commands?

• Love others as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:39-40)
• As much as is in You, live peaceably with everyone (after all, He did say He gave you His peace. If you cannot do that, then you must question what is in you). (Romans 12:18)
• Do not be revengeful (He says vengeance is His and He will take care of that).
• Do not judge (remember the rat hole you were in before you condemn someone else). (Matthew 7:1-3)
• Pray for those who intentionally try to use you.
• Bless them that curse you. (Matthew 5:44-46)
• Repent. (Matthew 4:17)
• Let your light shine before others. (Matthew 5:16)
• Keep your word (let your yea be yea and your nay, nay). (Matthew 5:37)
• Seek first the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33)
• Do unto others what you would want them to do to you. (Matthew 7:12)
• Deny yourself.(Luke 9:23-25)
• Forgive those who offend and make sure you are not the offender (Matthew 18:15-17)

Loving God goes beyond the words that we say. If you “luh” (or love Him), the proof is in how you represent Him.