Someone gave me a book a number of years ago. It was about the various ways that we can communicate love to those we care about. I didn’t read the book (not because it was a bad book I just never got around to it). But, the book indicates that there were 5 different ways that speak love to people. At least that is what I have been told.
The ways in which we can speak love are affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, and physical contact. Some people feel loved when we speak words of affirmation to them. Other people feel loved when we perform acts of service (do nice things for them like washing their car). Still, others feel loved when we give them gifts. And others feel loved when we spend quality time with them. And finally, others feel loved through physical contact (i.e. stroking their hair or holding their hand, etc.).
I personally, am a complete and total quality time person. If my husband plans time for just he and I (it could be to just sit in the yard, drink coffee, and watch the birds) I am over the moon. He, on the other hand, prefers touch. When we first met, he said he was not the kind of person that liked/participated in public displays of affection. Now, we constantly hold hands, hug, and walk arm in arm. It is absolutely his love language.
I wonder if the idea behind exhibiting love in these various forms originated by studying how our savior loved? Because Jesus knew how to communicate love in all these ways as well. If anyone could speak love, it was our Savior.
Affirmation – Jesus spoke words of affirmation to the disciples. He encouraged them and reminded them that they could do anything the Father asked of them. “And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6
Acts of Service – Jesus is a Savior with a servant’s heart. He performed acts of service. “so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:4-5.
Jesus took the lowliest position he could, that of a servant who washes the feet of guests. And He took that position to exhibit the depths to which they too should be willing to go to serve one another, please their Heavenly Father, and accomplish His will. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:15-16. He showed the disciples (and us) a deeper, more selfless way to love one another.
Physical Contact – We see Jesus speak love through touch at various times. Whether through healing, washing feet, or just an act of kindness, Jesus showed love through touch.
A great example of that is in Matthew 17. “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” Matthew 17:5-7. Jesus could have just said, “Get up and have no fear.” But He didn’t do that. Scripture says He touched them and told them to rise and not fear. Think about the intimacy and the love that He conveyed at that moment. The disciples were extremely fearful. Had Jesus said arise and don’t fear, they would have risen. That extra touch must have conveyed calm and peace that we can only experience through the love of our Savior.
Quality Time – Jesus gave us the perfect example of quality time. When He was spending time with someone, He was not multitasking. He spent time with the disciples, traveling, eating with and teaching them. We often see times similar to those that they spent alone in the upper room.
Jesus used others as an example of how to spend quality time as well. We see that in Luke 10…
“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed–or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39-42. Martha was upset. She was frantic about the festivities. But Mary just sat at Jesus’s feet. She wanted to hear every word that He spoke. That is quality time… with the Savior!
The greatest exhibit of quality time that Jesus gives us though is the time that He spent with His Heavenly Father. “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Mark 1:35; “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God” Luke 6:12; “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5:16. Jesus was constantly going off by Himself to spend significant, quality time with His Heavenly Father.
Gifts – But when it comes to gift giving. There is no one who gives greater gifts. Jesus is the greatest gift ever given. ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” And because God gave His perfect Son to pay a debt we couldn’t pay, eternal life is ours for the asking. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.
Our Savior gave us every example of how to express love to others. He is Himself an expression of love.
There is a dying and hurting world out there. One that needs peace (Jesus is Peace – “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”. 2 Thessalonians 3:16); A world that needs love (God loves us so much He calls us His children – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1); A world that needs Jesus (“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12).
When we are followers of Jesus Christ, we and Jesus are one. So, when we are in the world… He is in the world. “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:21.
If we want to speak a language of Love to a lost and dying world, speak Jesus. Show them Jesus. If we want to speak a language of Love to those around us who don’t know Jesus, speak Jesus. Show them Jesus. And, If we want to speak a language of Love to those we love, who don’t know Jesus, speak Jesus and show them Jesus.
Lord, forgive us when we lack a spirit of love. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your example. And we thank you for your love and sacrifice! Help us to speak and be love to this broken and hurting world. Use us to heal, forgive, and love those around us. Teach us to speak love in a more bold and beautiful way. We pray this in your precious and holy name Jesus.
Have you felt — or are you feeling — unloved? We all have at some point. The greatest love that you will ever experience is a mere prayer away. Please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. And pray it from the bottom of your heart. God loves you. He wants to forgive you and adopt you into His family. He wants to speak love into your life.
Please pray that prayer and, once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-loved.com. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.
Luv Ya!
