Love — it’s a word the world never stops trying to define. From songs and movies to gifts and promises, we chase after feelings that fade and emotions that change. But Jesus offers a definition that defies sentimentality and challenges every human instinct. In His teaching, love isn’t a passing feeling or a mutual exchange — it’s an act of divine will, rooted in the heart of God and displayed most clearly on the cross. His love doesn’t wait to be deserved; it moves first, forgives first, and gives without condition.

When Jesus commanded His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, He revealed a love that is radically different from the world’s. It’s not born from emotion, but from transformation. Only those who have been changed by God’s mercy can love with God’s heart. This kind of love reflects our heavenly Father, who sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous, showing compassion to all without favoritism. It is the mark of those who truly belong to Him — a love that acts according to His nature, not our comfort.

To love like this costs something. It means surrendering pride, releasing bitterness, and choosing forgiveness when it feels impossible. Yet in doing so, we reveal Christ to the world. The cross stands as love’s truest definition — not a symbol of sentiment, but of sacrifice. Real love gives, even when it hurts. It forgives, even when wronged. And it endures, even when rejected. So, what does your love reveal — emotion, or transformation? Does it reflect the fleeting nature of the world, or the eternal heart of God?