Followers of Jesus claim that they get to experience an extraordinary kind of love. It is not the sort of chemical attraction associated with romantic love, and it does not necessarily involve high levels of emotion, but it is the sort of love which penetrates to the core of a person’s being and gives a sense of certainty and permanence in relationship. John talks about this type of love in the third chapter of his first letter:
We have known love, because he laid down his life for us. We should lay down our lives for our fellow believers. How can the love of God be inside people who have plenty, but close their hearts against a fellow believer whom they can see is in need? My children, let us not just love in words, or with our tongues, but with our actions and in truth. By doing this we know that we are genuine, and can be confident in the presence of God, even if we feel guilty, because God is greater than our emotions, and knows everything.
This is a type of love which is defined more by action than emotion. Jesus laid down his life for us, and that makes us want to sacrifice our own interests for the sake of serving others, particularly those who are in need. The full experience of the Christian life is only available to those who enter into the deep kind of love which flows from laying down your life in service to others.