Torah Road

Love Is More Than a Feeling

Shalom,

Let’s kick off this journey with a simple but soul-searching question: What is love, really? Not the kind that flickers in a rom-com or fades when things get hard—but the kind that Scripture calls us to live out daily.

Paul opens 1 Corinthians 13 by saying that even if we speak with angelic tongues or have prophetic insight, without love, we’re just noise. That hits deep. Because love isn’t just spiritual seasoning—it’s the main dish.

But here’s the twist: Paul wasn’t creating a new doctrine. He was echoing the Torah, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Let’s look at a few examples.

📖 Love in Action: Biblical Snapshots

• Genesis 29:20 – Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and it felt like days because of his love for her. That’s devotion. Love that labors without resentment.
• Ruth 1:16–17 – Ruth clung to Naomi, saying, “Where you go, I will go… your God will be my God.” That’s covenant love. Not transactional—transformational.
• Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times.” Not just when it’s easy. Not just when it benefits us. Real love shows up in adversity.
• Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love YHVH your God with all your heart…” That’s not passive affection—it’s active allegiance.

Love, in the Hebrew Scriptures, is never hollow. It’s loyal, sacrificial, and rooted in truth. It’s chesed—lovingkindness. It’s ahavah—deep affection. It’s rachamim—compassion that moves us to act.

🪞 Pause & Reflect: Are We Loving?

Let’s get honest. Ask yourself:

1. Do I show love when no one’s watching—or only when it’s convenient?
2. Do I love people who challenge me, or just those who affirm me?
3. Does my love reflect YHVH’s character—or my own comfort?

If these questions stir something in you, good. That’s the Spirit nudging us toward growth.

🛠️ Call to Action: Love That Looks Like Torah

This week, let’s practice love that’s rooted in Scripture—not sentiment.

• Choose one person to show unexpected kindness to—especially someone you’ve overlooked.
• Read Psalm 103 and reflect on how YHVH loves you—then mirror that love to others.
• Write down one way you’ll love more truthfully this week—then do it.

Love isn’t just a virtue—it’s a verb. And when we love like Torah teaches, we become living testimonies of Messiah’s heart.

Stay tuned for Part 2: “What Love Is Not.”

Shalom and strength,
Kyle Jones

beitoftruth.org