Love: A Truthful Reflection

Every day is a lesson, and today, I’ve come to a deeper understanding of what love truly is. Love isn’t always soft whispers or soothing words. Love, at times, can pierce, challenge, and even hurt.

God, who is Love itself, declares, “Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23), yet remains unchanging in His perfect love. His justice, though stern, is rooted in His holiness and His desire for us to walk in truth. Love, therefore, is not diminished by the sharpness of truth—it is revealed through it.

We often mistake love for indulgent gentleness, thinking it must always comfort and appease. But love is also corrective and refining. Scripture says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). True love does not cower behind pleasing words; it dares to speak truth, even when it stings.

Consider Jesus in the temple, where He overturned tables and drove out the moneychangers with a whip, proclaiming, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). Was that hatred? No—it was a zealous, righteous love, fiercely guarding the sanctity of God’s dwelling.

I’d rather stumble in my journey but remain anchored in God’s Word than compromise for fleeting acceptance. I’d rather wrestle with my imperfections while holding firm to my faith than abandon the truth for the approval of man. For it is written, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).

True love seeks God's approval above all else. “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). A love that prioritizes pleasing others over truth is no love at all—it is deception.

To love as God commands is to care enough to speak truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s better to risk offending someone temporarily than to see them walk a path leading away from life. Love doesn't avoid confrontation; it redeems through it.

Let us reexamine what we call love, aligning it with God’s standard, not man’s perception. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Truth and love are inseparable. Choose love—the kind that reflects the heart of God.