Have you seen the sign or heard the phrase “Love is love”? Ever since I saw this sign in someone’s yard years ago, I have struggled with this phrase because I knew it was not true, but I did not know how to explain what I knew in my spirit. I have asked the Lord for years, why does this not resonate with me?

I walk in a neighborhood by my house and there is a sign in the yard with this exact phrase on it and every morning I read it and struggle to explain why this is not true, so I have kept quiet on the subject. The Lord has finallly revealed to me what this sign is saying and why it is not true, but He has also shown me the truth about love and I would like to share with you what the Lord has shown me.

Love is love means, we have been shown legalistic love, which came with a bunch of does and dont’s; it came across mean, hurtful, condemning even at times, so people flipped to the other ditch and decided love is liberal. The idea is love is without boundaries, we can love whoever we want, however we want. Love is love is a statement made in the alphabet community and describes how we are to love everyone and not question the behaviors they are displaying.

Love is not love. Love is not legalistic and love is not liberal. These two ditches are not love. Biblical love is personal accounability and personal responsibility. Love holds myself accountable and responsible to not harm you in any way. If I say I love you, I am saying I am not going to do anything to harm you. Love is me doing no harm to you.

John 15 says “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Biblical love is obeying the commands of God to love God, and love people. Love is not liberal, you, nor I, do not get to do whatever we want, love has boundaries, but love is also not legalistic, it is not confining, restricting, condemning.

Love is light, love is truth, love is hope, love is joy, love is peace, love is a person named Jesus Christ and when we love Him and do what He says, we love each other the way He loves us and His love is neither legalistic nor liberal, it is obedience to His Father who so loved the world He gave Jesus His son, so whoever believes in Jesus will never perish. Love is personal accountability and personal responsibility to not do anything that would harm another person. This is what love is.