The Ultimate True Love Test

One dictionary defines love as "a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person." Other definitions include a "warm personal attachment", or "deep affection" for another individual. Many people regard love as a feeling between two people that rises out of attraction, common interests and experiences. This unfortunate view of love, however, is the reason many marriages do not survive. Couples join in marriage with love that is based on a feeling. When the feeling fades the relationship ends.

Love, in reality, is a verb. It requires action. We can't see it, but we can measure it by its effects. So how do you measure how much you love someone, or how much someone loves you. You do it by considering how much you have sacrificed for another person, or another person has sacrificed for you.

True Love Quiz:
1) Do they show joy even when you forgot to consider their feelings?
2) Do they try to keep the peace even when they are probably right?
3) Do they show kindness to you even though you have not been kind to them?
4) Do they give what is good about them to you to make you happy?
5) Do they show faith in you even though they might not have a reason to?
6) Do they talk to you with gentle, soft-spoken words even when they are very upset?
7) Do they exercise self-control, or are they self-serving?

Many years ago a young boy was asked to help his friend who was in poor health. His friend would need a blood transfusion in order to survive. This young boy shared his friend's blood type, and was asked if he would help his friend by giving him his blood. Understanding the importance of this act, he consented to the transfusion. During the procedure the boy reacted unexpectedly, seeming quite sad. When he was asked what they trouble was, he responded by telling them that he though they were going to take all of his blood.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Jesus defined the act of love. This young boy showed it in full measure. May we all rise to the example that has been set before us.