When looking at what love is, we need to know why it’s important.
Love is important, because it’s the substance holding everything together.
~Love is like a foundation~
Our relationships must be built on love, otherwise, they will fail.
Our motivation must be formed from love, otherwise we will become lazy in what we have dreamed and envisioned for ourselves (to do). [We have to love what we do!]
Without love, there would be no hope
1 John 4:18- “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
Without love, there would be no faith
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”-1 John 4:9
Without love, there is no motivation/confidence
1 John 4:17- By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
Without love, there wouldn’t even be any justice or wrath
God is a “just” God and so He will always require a payment to be made for something good or bad (Ecclesiastes 3:17). Jesus says in Revelation 3:19- “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
So when we (God’s children/servants) are not doing what we need to do. In love, God warns us.
God’s attribute of justice is reflected in us as well (Hosea 12:6)
**Technically our own sins should condemn us, but because Jesus was God’s payment (justice)for sin, then we are no longer guilty [when we repent of our sin].
If we are no longer guilty and therefore our wrongdoings are no longer held against us, then we must no longer hold things against other people. This “justice”[in God’s eyes], causes us to act in love and mercy even towards people who are guilty of doing wrong.**
→1 Peter 4:8 - “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
→ 1 John 4: 20-21 “ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
→ Proverbs 10:12- “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
Love is the substance holding everything together. The things that God has called us to do or be cannot be achieved unless we have love first. The things God commands us to live in, can’t be achieved without love. Perhaps, that’s why “love” is listed as the first Fruit of the Spirit; you need love first, in order to do anything else (Galatians 5:22-23).
1 Corinthians 13:8- “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
That first sentence in 1 Corinthians 13:8 says, “Love never fails.”
So, if love can never fail, then it’s the most important thing we can do! As Christians, we cannot fail to operate in love! (1 Corinthians 16:14)
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