Love cannot be separated from life and living. They are woven together. Those who could not harbor true love create her look-alikes. This gave birth to lust and evil desires, Colossians 3:5.

As much as people can see and proclaim a man's love for another fellow, it is also possible for someone in love to know and express it so.

It does not end there, a loved one can know and declare it so. It is sad that many people who are loved abuse and misuse it. They exploit it thinking that a lover is drowned in the sea of love and could not be rescued. No! The Lord has an escape route for him. He will lead him out of danger. It is the exploiters who will bear great losses.

Why?

The reason is that love should beget love. Love should generate love and maintain it. Love and loving are a demonstration of something good. Failure to appreciate it or exploit it to the detriment of a lover is evil. So, what is the reward for such a person? Let the Scriptures answer:
"[13]If you repay good with evil,
    evil will never leave your house." Proverbs 17.

A loved person should know it, express it, appreciate, and reciprocate it so as not to be guilty before God for being loved.
This was the case with David and Jonathan, the son of the first king of Israel.

The Scriptures confirm it, "[1]After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.
[3]And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David because he loved him as he loved himself." 1 Samuel 18.
This is in consonant with the divine instructions of the Lord, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31.
David acknowledged it wholesale and wholeheartedly.

Expression.
He expressed Jonathan's love to him thus, "[25]Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
[26]How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
    Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
    deeper than the love of women!" 2 Samuel 1.

These words confirm what has been expressed earlier. Jonathan had exceeding love for David. His love exceeded a woman's love for her husband. David knew what a woman's love was. He swam in the river of women because he surrounded himself with women. He knew how women express their love and how far they can go to express it.

He was aware of the love Bathsheba displayed to earn the position of a king's mother. Ordinarily, she was not the kind who should occupy that position. Her love for David and his God took her son, Solomon, to the throne of Israel which made her the king's mother. So David knew what he was saying when he compared the love of Jonathan with that of women. According to the Scriptures, David fulfilled all righteousness.

Reciprocation.
David was not only in love with his friend, Jonathan, when he was alive. The love continued after Jonathan's death. He reciprocated by saying, "[1]...“Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9.
That is love for you. This question brought one of Jonathan's children, Mephiboseth, back to the palace to eat at the king's table as one of the Princes.
Do you know what? He was not worthy.

Why?

i.He was lame in his feet. He was not fit for the palace. King David also hated the lame but love made him live with one of them.
ii. The family of King Saul should be perpetual enemies. Mephiboseth was one of them, he was fit to die but parental love and covenant covered him. He lived as a Prince throughout his life. David's life was saved by Jonathan, 1 Samuel 19:1. So David also saved Mephiboseth's life, 2 Samuel 21:1-7.
That is real love for you. God and man appreciate and reciprocate. Therefore appreciate and reciprocate that person who loves you. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.
Note.
All Scriptures quoted are from the New Living Translation (NLT) of the Holy Bible.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.