Ultimately love is a decision as Gary Smalley so eloquently put it in his book "Love is a Decision". It's not a romantic, mushy, gushy, warm, emotional "feeling". Some people are just "impossible" to love especially if we follow the rules of or feelings! :) SO...the God kind of love would have to be #1 a decision; we must choose to see God's value in people. Begin by caring deeply for other's. Does that mean to allow them to walk all over you and be rude and unkind or abusive? NO! Absolutely not! Which brings me to #2 a sacrifice; to pray for those who despite-fully use you. It is a sacrifice to show that sort of love, to care about another person's well-being (spiritual, emotional, & physical) even when they don't care about yours. Usually the mushy-gushy feelings will follow our decision to love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)
4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
Jana
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