Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:7-10 NIV)
This Scripture tells us that “God is love.” What does “love” mean to you?
I suspect that every one of us has a different perception of what love is, especially considering that not everyone’s experience with love is the same.
We are told in Scripture to imitate God (Eph. 5:1), so let’s take a look at 1 Cor. 13:4-8a to see how God describes love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8a NIV)
As we look at the description of love that is given to us in God’s Word, we may feel incapable of loving others that way. But, through His Holy Spirit, God can enable us to love others in a way that would be impossible, solely based on our human ability. Love is one of the fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22. So, God has told us that He wants us to love one another, He has told us what genuine love is, and He will help us to love in this manner.
Once we have known and experienced God’s love personally, it can inspire us to share it with others as well. God’s love has the power to change a person’s life, and laying hold of it and accepting it as your own can be the first step to restoration in your life. As we begin to live as people transformed by God’s love, we can effectively share that love with others and witness transformation in their lives as well.
My prayer is, “Thank You Father, for Your incredible love that will never end. Thank You for sending Jesus, as His death and resurrection is the ultimate expression of Your love for me. Please help me every day to show Your love to others. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
