Sometimes, we're a little sloppy about the way we use words. If we're not careful, it carries over into the way we think. Probably no word has been more misused, or overused, than the word "love." We talk about loving ice cream, cake, and cars. We listen to songs about love and watch actors demonstrate "love" on television.

The Bible also talks about love. It describes "love" a little differently. God's Word describes love this way:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

If this use of the word "love" doesn't square with the way we have thought about it before, maybe we need to take a few minutes to re-evaluate and think again. Why not spend some time looking at your life and asking yourself if you love this way? And while we're at it, why not read the story of Jesus and see life lived this way? You can find his story in any of the four Gospels in your New Testament — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John!