True Love

In this month of February, when so much of the world is focused on romantic love, let’s learn from the Bible what God’s true love is all about.

Matthew 22:37,38:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.

Our Lord Jesus Christ knew what love was all about. Loving the Father first is the key to loving others.

Matthew 22:39,40:
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

To love others, we must first love ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us and love us. That was the point of all that the Father told Moses and the other prophets.

Romans 5:5:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.

When we were born again of God’s spirit, we received His spiritual love on the inside. It is shed abroad in our hearts.

I Corinthians 16:14:
Let all your things be done with charity.

There is nothing in life worth doing without God’s love. That is how Jesus walked and showed us how to live.

Colossians 3:14:
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond [uniting cord] of perfectness.

The thing that holds us most together as Christians, so that we can live peacefully with each other, is God’s perfect love. We “put it on” by believing His Word and living it.

God’s Love Manifested in the Church

We saw near the end of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian believers that he exhorted them to “Let all your things be done with charity.” He was a good example of doing this. His final words in the letter are: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

This letter shows how to be loving in practical ways. Here are a few lines from the letter about love:

I Corinthians 2:9:
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

We have so much to look forward to in this life and the next because of our Father’s great love for us in Christ.

I Corinthians 4:14:
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

Paul’s intent in sending this letter wasn’t to make them feel bad where they were makings mistakes, but to give them words from God that would help them. Paul loved them, so he was “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). The word translated “warn” in I Corinthians 4:14 is from the Greek noutheteō. This word comes from nous (mind) and tithēmi (to put or place). Paul was literally putting them in mind of God’s Word. That’s one of the most loving things we can do for others.

A few thoughts later, Paul wrote to them about his motive and manner of encouraging them.

I Corinthians 4:21:
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

We don’t need to “push people around” when trying to help them spiritually. That is opposite of what people need. When we have a “spirit of meekness,” we will be loving and do all we can to reach the heart of others in need. Jesus Christ showed us how to be meek.

I Corinthians 8:3,6:
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

God knows if we love Him. The best way to show that love is to trust the Father as our all-powerful supply. And to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have all things. When we keep those relationships straight, it is easier to love each other.

I Corinthians 10:13-15:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

When we love others, we remind them that God will “come to the rescue” when they need it. We also remind them not to be trapped by the Devil’s tricks into worshipping him. That is idolatry, and we are to “run away” from it. Notice that love is also expecting other believers to have God’s wisdom so that they can understand and “judge” our encouragement.

I Corinthians 15:57,58:
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

When we love others, we remind them of the hope of Christ’s future return for us. Knowing we have this victory, we can be steadfast and do the “work of the Lord” each day.

How to Love in the Church

This letter to the Corinthians handles a lot of topics where they needed Paul’s guidance: being like-minded, not breaking up into cliques, marriage and sex, idolatry, holy communion, judging each other, the gift of holy spirit and its nine manifestations, and more. I Corinthians 12 list the ways that we can show forth God’s gift of spirit within us.

I Corinthians 12:7-10:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.

Chapter 14 addresses how three of these manifestations (speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy) are to bless the church when it gets together. The main ingredient in allowing the Father to work in us and show forth His power is love. That’s why chapter 13 is in the middle of this part of the letter.

I Corinthians 13: The Greatest of These Is God’s Love

This chapter is often quoted and even memorized. It is a succinct representation of God’s love in practice. It tells us what God’s love is. It also shows what it is not. That helps us to understand how we can live in God’s love. God’s love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:1:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

The previous chapter talked about speaking in tongues (and interpretation of tongues), along with seven other spiritual manifestations. Without God’s love, it is just a bunch of noise.

I Corinthians 13:2:
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

This verse includes the other seven manifestations: prophecy; word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits (understanding all mysteries and knowledge); faith; miracles and gifts of healings (removing “mountains”). Without God’s love, we are nothing—no matter how “great” things may appear.

I Corinthians 13:3:
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Feeding the homeless and burning ourselves out in “Christian” service may be wonderful things. But without God’s love as our motivation, what’s the point?

I Corinthians 13:4:
Charity suffereth long [is patient]….

Now we begin to see practically what love is, and what it is not. The first way we show God’s love to others is to be patient with them. After all, our Father is certainly patient and forgiving with us!

I Corinthians 13:4:
Charity…is kind.

What a great truth on how to love. Just as our Father in kindness sent His Son to save us, so we too give with kindness to bless others. Preaching the gospel of Christ is a vital blessing.

I Corinthians 13:4:
Charity envieth not.

Now we will see what God’s love is not. When we love and trust our heavenly Father, we know that He supplies our need. Therefore, we are thankful for what others have as well.

I Corinthians 13:4:
Charity vaunteth not itself.

When I have God’s love, I know that I am nothing without what Christ has done for me. So why brag? Let others see Christ in you, and some will appreciate that.

I Corinthians 13:4:
Charity…is not puffed up.

Even Jesus said that he could “do nothing” without the Father.  While we walk on earth, let’s keep a humble and meek attitude, as our Master showed us to do.

I Corinthians 13:5:
Charity…doth not behave itself unseemly.

We aren’t “stuffy” when it comes to manners or etiquette. But we are respectful of others and do our best with God’s love to not offend them.

I Corinthians 13:5:
Charity…seeketh not her own.

When we realize how much our Father loves us, and how much our Lord Jesus Christ lovingly does for us—then we won’t be worried about ourselves. That frees us to love and help others.

I Corinthians 13:5:
Charity…is not easily provoked.

It seems that the “touchiest” people are those who don’t love themselves. We are not easily offended when we realize that “greater is He that is in you” than the adversary’s hurtful attacks on our emotions.

I Corinthians 13:5:
Charity…thinketh [keeps track of] no evil.

Do you have a list of how “bad” certain people are? Let’s forgive others as God forgives us in Christ (Ephesians 4:32).

I Corinthians 13:6:
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

I don’t “feel good” when others are used and then hurt by the Devil. I rejoice when others believe the truth about Jesus Christ and are saved for all eternity.

I Corinthians 13:7:
Charity…beareth all things.

Now we will see four things that God’s love can do in “any situation.” First, it has the spiritual strength to protect and support others when they need it.

I Corinthians 13:7:
Charity…believeth all things.

Secondly, God’s love in us helps us to believe the appropriate promises from the Father. That includes those in the Bible, and those we learn by God’s spirit working in us or other born-again believers.

I Corinthians 13:7:
Charity…hopeth all things.

With a confident assurance from God’s love, we have no doubt that Jesus Christ is coming back for us in the future. That hope is the anchor of our souls.

I Corinthians 13:7:
Charity…endureth all things.

Ever feel like you can’t go on another minute? With God’s love we can endure: steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I Corinthians 13:8:
Charity never faileth [comes to an end]: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

All of those spiritual manifestations mentioned previously are only for our time on earth. They will all be unnecessary when Christ returns for us. We will have new bodies like Christ’s raised-up spiritual body and enjoy God’s eternal love.

I Corinthians 13:9:
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

Those manifestations that give us spiritual insight [word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits] are only a little of what our Father knows. The same is true of those things we speak for Him.

I Corinthians 13:10:
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When Christ returns for us, all those spiritual manifestations will be done away. Then we will have a truly eternal fellowship with the Father and His Son.

I Corinthians 13:11:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Those spiritual manifestations that help us “speak” and “understand” today are childish and immature compared to our future communications and understanding. What a great hope that we have in Christ!

I Corinthians 13:12:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And old hymn says: “Face to face with Christ my Savior, face to face what will it be? When with rapture I behold him, Jesus Christ who lives for me.” That will be quite a time!

I Corinthians 13:13:
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Each day let’s believe God’s Word and hope in Christ’s return. But above all, let’s do it with the Father’s love in us. That is the greatest thing we can ever do in this life.