The word "love" has various meanings; yet, when it is portrayed in a religious sense, the meaning is elevated to a more profound state. When this word is referred to in the Bible, it is not used in the same context as saying, "I love this object, I love that," or "I love to swim." Nor is it used as in "I love ice cream." It develops into a deeper meaning, into a state that penetrates the heart, expressing a profound meaning.
To realize that God sent His only Son as the sacrifice for the salvation of the world is to realize that this is true love. How much more love can someone give than to be willing to die for a person? This is exactly what God has done for us. He demonstrates the fulfillment of love, through a sacrifice.
Even as Christ, our Savior, went through a time of turmoil, a time of rejection, a time of being unknown, a time of discomfort, a time of pain, we too, as followers of Christ, must taste a portion of the pain our Lord went through. When we understand this, maybe we can start to understand the love God has for us, and maybe understand how significant we are to God.
It is not easy to follow Christ; but let us understand that He was and is triumphant over suffering and pain. Let us turn to Him for guidance. How can He guide us but through prayer and our thankfulness of His guidance?
To rightly define the meaning of love is to assume that God is, through His Book — the Holy Bible — ultimately the true example of love. The importance in the meaning and examples of love is directly linked to God's willingness to grant us the understanding of its meaning. Through the Holy Spirit, we gain knowledge of what true love is.