Defined and Developed...Only to Give Away

Love..."bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things," 1 Corinthians 13:7.

"The New Testament in Modern English" translates it this way: "Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything."

What Kind of Love?

This kind of love - genuine and eternal - is supernatural. It is Christ-in-us that enables us to serve, to give, and to work so that others are drawn to Him. Souls are not saved by believing in our works, but by believing in the accomplished work on the Cross, so we always point to Jesus Christ. We must boast in the Lord and give Him the credit for what He has done.

How Do I Do It?

Matthew 22:37, "Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no one that this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

We are not to try to divide our love between God and others, but let God love others through us. This is why we are to love God first, and then love one another. They're equal in importance, but in that order for a reason. We cannot love others with God's love without first loving Him - and we love Him because He first loved us. (See 1 John 4:19.)

How Will I Know I Have Love?

1 John 2:3-5, "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him."

The proof of our love for God is seen in our actions and confirmed by our attitudes. As we seek the Lord daily in prayer and in reading His Word, He will cleanse us and make us usable. As we obey His instructions, He will give us eyes to see the needs around us and we will be willing to give selflessly.

Will I Receive More?

Ephesians 3:19, "To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." The more we know God's character, and the more we understand His love, the more our love for Him will grow.

Here we meet the essence of Christlikeness: love others with the love we have been given.

Love, Karen