Real Life: Love
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1Corinthians 13:13
Love’s origin is God, for God is love. It’s not a sentiment or a feeling, but deliberate, intentional action. In the Greek it is the word agape and agapao. The Vine’s Bible dictionary states it this way: “Love can be known only from the action it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1John 4:9,10. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice.” Love is action taken by deliberate choice of the will. Love is drawn from His very essence. God’s love is ours because of Who He is and what He’s done for us. Our love to God is expressed in our obedience to His every command (John 14) and seeks to do good to all men, women, and children. From Him human beings can know true love and exercise it every day. “It expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.” What does all this mean?
Love is action. Love is a deliberate choice. Love is unconditional. Love reaches out to all. Listen to the words of 1 Corinthians 13: Love:
- Is patient
- Is kind
- Is not jealous
- Does not brag
- Is not proud or arrogant
- Is not rude (mannerly)
- Is not self-seeking (unselfish)
- Does not fail
- Does not hold grudges
- Does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth prevails
- Always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres
Is it possible to live like this? Yes, with the power of the Spirit. That’s why Jesus came to die, to free us from
sin and give us His life, His power, His essence. It’s not empty religious dogma. It’s real life. Come to Jesus and live.
“God is Love.” 1 John 4:8
