Faith, Hope & Love: What Is Love?

Here is the devotional:

On the first day of this plan, we defined love as affection for a person or object.

Everyone loves Mrs. Smith.
Give them my love.
Basketball was his first love.

There are a variety of definitions we could attribute to the word love and most would be appropriate. However, when we examine the word love from God’s viewpoint, we get a different picture of what love really is. It’s actually the foundation of our faith in Jesus, because God loved the entire world enough to send His Son to pay the penalty for all of our sins.

It’s hard to grasp God’s generosity in giving His Son for us, but the Bible speaks about His love so powerfully. Because of Him, we have the ability to love (1 John 1:9). Jesus calls us to love and says that people will know we follow Him by our love (John 13:34-35). The Apostle Paul tells us that love is patient and kind, that it’s not selfish, proud, dishonoring, or rude (1 Corinthians 13:4-8), and that love binds over everything in perfect unity (Colossians 3:14).

How do we live it out?
The call to love others came straight from Jesus, and love is best demonstrated in our relationships. It’s not a do whatever feels right in the moment kind of love. Love is action. Truly loving others will be uncomfortable at times, because it goes against our selfish, human nature. But love seeks to build bridges, chooses to honor others, and shows respect for all people regardless of differing viewpoints. We most beautifully represent Jesus when we love people, for it’s in these selfless acts that the world will see a Savior who’s worth following.

What do I do when my love is low?
Sometimes it feels great to love others deeply and at other times, we simply make the choice to act in love even if we don’t feel like it. At times we want to hurt someone with our words or actions because our love tank is running on empty, but know that stepping back from a toxic situation will bring better results. Ultimately, when we feel depleted in the love category, let’s remind ourselves of all God has done for us and walk with a grateful heart. Choosing to love will actually increase our love and will lead us to love others well.

Here are the scriptures referenced:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 KJV

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A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34‭-‬35 KJV

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 KJV

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Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬8 KJV

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And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV

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Let all your things be done with charity.
1 Corinthians 16:14 KJV

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And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:14 KJV

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We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 KJV

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Here are Stu’s thoughts:

Trying to explain love is one of the most difficult things in the world to accomplish.

I have tried to explain to Angie why and how I love her so much one time. I tried. I started and things were coming out ok but then my words just stopped coming out and tears came from my eyes instead. Like I said I tried.

I told her I was sorry but the words will not form but the tears were enough. She knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that I love her. I have proven it!

God proved his love for us by sending Jesus to die the most excruciating death imaginable for our sins that that we could become his sons and daughters. (A post is coming on the crucifixion by the way)

Think about it Jesus became the Savior of the world because God loves US! How freaking blessed we are to be able to be reunited in spirit with God here on this earth through the gift of the Holy Spirit and plus we get to spend eternity in his presence!

But what about those who do not believe? Jesus still died for them. How will they be able to believe that Jesus is real?

Up until about twenty years ago I would say the church. But it seems the church has been infiltrated by the devil as so many pastors and lay people are being arrested for sexual misconduct.

And the members of the church would rather win an debate than love the person they are debating against.

I’m sorry. but that is not what Jesus taught. Jesus told us to love one another as he loves us.

I mean really just look at us…

We have more denominations than there are fish in the seas it seems. Why? Because we all want to interpret scripture differently. So we split up into our own clicks.

Look at the division…

God says thou shall not kill. Jesus goes further saying that words can kill. Pretty plain and simple if you ask me. But no..we have many that kill babies in the womb and would much rather spew out hurtful words than say hi to someone.

And we wonder why people are turned off by Christianity…

Did you know that you can actually disagree with someone on any topic and still choose to love that person?

Did you know that you can actually talk to a homeless person without becoming homeless yourself?  It seems that that is not true as many people would rather walk around the block than walk by a homeless person much less talk to them.

Did you know that Jesus actually had dinner, had conversations with and loved people that you would not even wave at if they waved first?

Are we just too selfish? Or do we really think we are better that another person when God is the creator of all of us?

You want to know what love is? I will tell you right now to look to Jesus! Do not look to Stu as I do not exhibit love all the time. Just saying.

Look to 1 Corinthians 13 as it it describes love to a T!

Then apply that and 1 Corinthians 16:14 into your life…let ALL things be done in love!