Writing about the three great Christian virtues, the apostle Paul penned these words:
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
The love the apostle speaks of is not the kind that romantic love songs are written about. It is the kind of love that God has for the world. The Bible informs us that, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
It is this love that has been imparted to every child of God through the gift of God’s Spirit “We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5 GW)
This is why Jesus gave us the following commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13: 34,35).
The love of God that is seen in Jesus Christ is the love that is to rule the church, rule our homes, and rule our own individual hearts. When a man or woman is ruled and motivated by this love of God, he or she does not shrink back from making any sacrifice for another.
This love that is to be seen in all we say and do heals broken hearts and encourages weak hearts. It is endures, it is kind, it does not envy, nor is it self-centred or rude, it is not easily provoked, never harbours evil thoughts about another. Love does not delight in evil but it rejoices in the truth. Love holds us up under great adversity, it believes God’s Word—it never fails – read 1 Corinthians Chapter13.
The love of God that He shares with us and which we share with others is the mightiest power in the world. When we love as Jesus loved with the love of God, we have Christ’s companionship, his strength, and his gentleness. And not only are we concerned about loving others in the church, but we will feel the same kind of compassion for the lost and broken that Christ feels. And we will do whatever it takes to lead others to saving faith in Christ. The apostle John declares: “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:15, 16).
This is the great life to which we have been called.
Let us be about our Father’s business……Amen.