I read
a quote from a pastor’s wife yesterday that struck me, and I’d like to share
the concept with you today. Essentially
it was a question about how we love: do we love like God loves, or do we settle
for something less? That is a tough but
very important question.
Once
we have come to understand and experienced God’s love no other love will be
able to compare. It is that “agape” (the
Greek word for God’s love) kind of love that is unconditional and not deserved
and not able to be revoked for any reason.
God loves us with such strong love that nothing, natural or
supernatural, can break that love. Truth
is that is the same love that we are to have for other people and for God.
1 Peter 4:8
NLT
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
From
God’s point of view it is His love that forgives and covers our sin. From our human point of view when we love
others we overlook and forgive the faults and problems of others.
Psalm 13:5
NLT
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
Yes,
God’s love is unfailing and is strong.
But love also rescues others as God rescues us. How can we rescue others by loving them? Unconditional acceptance is what a parent must
have for a child as god has for us.
Maybe you know someone who does feel or know they are loved today.
Rescue them.
Psalm 103:11
NLT
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the
heavens above the earth.
Fearing
God is not about being scared of Him. It
is about respect and worship. To fear
God is to allow Him to lead and guide our lives and for us to watch His
greatness and abundance become a part of our lives.
Proverbs 10:12
NLT
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
I’ve
been there. When I am upset or angry,
not much love comes out. But when I love
the offences take on new meaning and even seem to fall away.
Matthew 5:44
NLT
But I say, love
your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
This
is touch. Read the next verse.
Luke 6:35
NLT
Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without
expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and
you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those
who are unthankful and wicked.
That
is not natural. In fact the world says we should step on whoever we want as
long as it gets us what we want. God
says love people, all people because we are acting like Him at that point. Loving our enemies may be tough, but it is
always right.
Romans 8:39
NLT
No power in the sky above or in the earth
below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the
love of God that is revealed in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s
love. Take that to the bank.
Romans 12:9
NLT
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love
them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Pretend
love is all over the place. It is what
we see on TV or read about in the latest books.
Why is it pretend? It is pretend
because it doesn’t last. When we get
what we want, we stop loving. When we don’t
feel like it, we stop loving. But real
love keeps on keeping on. Real love
speaks truth (see Ephesians 4:15).
May
God help us see and experience the stuff loves does.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or
boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is
not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does
not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love
never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every
circumstance.
Comments