What Is Love, Anyway?

The world talks constantly about love. Songs, movies, relationships, emotions, attraction — everybody uses the word. But what does real love actually look like?

In this episode of FaithFuel with Bob Shaw, Bob talks about the difference between cultural ideas of love and the kind of love described in the Bible.

From infatuation and relationships to sacrifice, forgiveness, truth, grace, and the example of Jesus, this devotional explores why biblical love is deeper than emotion alone.

Using 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 and Romans 5:8, this episode encourages listeners to see love not just as a feeling, but as something that reflects the very character of God.

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Transcript

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I love pizza. I love football. I love this song. I'm in love. We use the word love for almost everything. But do we really understand what love is? I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. Love is one of the most talked-about subjects in the world. Thousands of songs have been written about it. Movies revolve around it. Entire lives get shaped by relationships, heartbreak, attraction, and emotion. And yet people still struggle to define what love actually is. For a long time, I thought love was mostly an emotion. If you felt it strongly enough, it was real. And if those feelings faded, something must be wrong. But after a while I realized real love goes much deeper than emotion alone. Because feelings change. And in relationships, people often confuse love with infatuation. That early excitement and attraction can feel euphoric and wonderful. But eventually that phase settles down and people start thinking, you've lost that loving feeling. But maybe what really disappeared was the infatuation stage, not love itself. 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4 and 7. Love is patient and kind. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. That description of love is a lot deeper than the way culture usually talks about it, because biblical love is not just emotion, it's commitment, patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, and choosing to love somebody even when emotions fluctuate. And that applies not just to marriage, but friendships, parenting, family relationships, and everyday interactions with people. One of the biggest misunderstandings about love is the idea that real love should always feel easy. But genuine love often requires humility and forgiveness. Sometimes it means putting someone else ahead of yourself. Sometimes it means telling the truth even when the conversation is uncomfortable. Because real love is not simply approving everything somebody does. Jesus showed incredible love during his ministry. He touched lepers nobody else wanted near them. He forgave people caught in sin. He wept with hurting families. He washed the feet of his disciples, and then he willingly went to the cross. Romans 5 verse 8 says, But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And there's that famous line from Forrest Gump. I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is. And you know what? Forrest actually did, because real love is not just emotion, it sacrifices, it stays, it gives. And maybe that's why real love is deeper and stronger than the world often makes it out to be, because it reflects the very character of God. Lord, thank you for showing us what real love looks like through Jesus. Help us love people with patience, grace, honesty, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Teach us not to build our understanding of love only on emotions or changing feelings. And help us reflect your love in the way we treat others every day. In Jesus' name, Amen. If today's episode connected with you, Faith Fuel has a large collection of devotionals covering everything from relationships and anxiety to prayer, doubt, and spiritual growth. There's a good chance another episode will speak right into where you are today. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.