Love

May this note about God's Love be a blessing to  everyone.

Love is the attribute of God that means the most to humanity.If God did not love HIS creations, HE would surely have disposed of us long ago in favor of a better model.As I read through the Bible I come across many instances of mankind's failures. Each time God's love and patience are tested but HE keeps working with us.

John tells us that "God is love." (1 John 4:8)Love is God's nature. How much does God love the world?
"For God so love the world so much that HE gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in HIM may not die but have eternal life."(John 3:16)
The Greek language has a word for this kind of love,
"agape"- the Love of Christ our Lord for mankind. Self
giving loyal concern that freely accepts another and seeks his/her good.

God loved His chosen people. Beginning with Abraham, He watched over the Israelites throughout their generations. "The Lord did not love you and choose you because you outnumbered other peoples;
you were the smallest nation on earth. But the Lord loved you and wanted to keep the promise that He made to your ancestors. That is why He saved you by His great might and set you free from slavery to the king of Egypt."( Deut.7:7-8)
God chose Abraham to start a special nation that would be God's own and from which He would bring HIS Son into the world.

John also tells us "Let us love one another, because love comes from God."(1 John 4:7) God expects us to show love towards each other. He also expects that we will love HIM totally. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5) Jesus repeated this as a commandment when challenged by the Pharisees. They tried to trap Jesus and asked HIM " Which is the greatest commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36)

Jesus responded with the Word," Love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it; Love your neighbor as you love yourself."( Matthew 22:37-39) He was only quoting the Scriptures that these Pharisees would have been very familiar with, Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Jesus did not change the law;He fulfilled it. His saying about love were not new, only His emphasis was new.

We cannot create Love.It is a gift from God to us." For God has poured out His love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us." ( Romans 5:5) "The Spirit produces love, joy,peace, patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness, humility and self-control."(Galatians 5:22-23)

Jesus said the love was a sign of HIS followers." if you have love from one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples." (John 13:35)
Jesus said,"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of Father in Heaven."(Matthew 5:43-45)

It was the Apostle John who wrote extensively on the word love and what it means for the believer. " Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world,If you love the world you do not love the Father."(1 John 2:15) God does not honor divided loyalties. He wants first place in our hearts. In 1 Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
There is nothing wrong with money,only the love of money.

John's emphasis continues with "We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God and hate others,we are liars. For we cannot love God whom we have not seen, if we do not love others  whom we have seen." (1 John 4:19-20) We act out our love for God by showing love to those around us. That is how He wants us to use the love He has given to us; by helping those we come in contact with our everyday life.



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By: Cassandra