Bible Ballistics: BBs #414 Love In Action???

 

We hear the word “love,” bantered about on every hand—I love football, I love baseball, I love hotdogs, I love my dog, and the list could go on and on. But what is love really about? Is it just about affection or does it go beyond ‘feelings’? Let’s spend some time together seeking God’s perspective on that question.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.” John 3:16-18

God loved us and He “gave”! He gave us Jesus, who took on a body of flesh, lived a perfect life on this earth, and gave Himself as a substitutionary (for me), atoning (paying the debt of another), sacrifice (dying for us, so that we could receive eternal life instead of death)! So love gives—gives for the benefit of others.

Paul paints one of the most detailed pictures of what love looks like in 1 Corinthian 13. The old English word ‘charity’ is just another word for ‘love’!

“Charity

suffereth long,

and is kind;

charity

envieth not;

charity

vaunteth not itself,

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:”   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Wow! What a picture. Do we measure our “love” by this standard? Often not, for the western culture defines ‘love’ as having one’s desires met—God’s definition is quite a bit different; God’s standard paints a picture of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, rather than ‘getting’. When we love as God loves, we will give of ourselves for the good of those whom we love. Love is an action—not just words!

“Hereby perceive we the love of God,

because he laid down his life for us:

and we ought to lay down our lives

for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world’s good,

and seeth his brother have need,

and shutteth up

his bowels of compassion

from him,

how dwelleth the love of God

in him?

18 My little children,

let us not love in word,

neither in tongue;

but in deed

and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

John calls us to never simply talk about love, but to live out our love in “deed and in truth”! Love is an action not just a feeling, as we live out our love it won’t be simply lip-service but “love” on display! Having the love of God within us, we are to display it toward others—and if we know Jesus, and have been born again, we do have the love of God within us!

“Beloved,

let us love one another:

for love is of God;

and every one that loveth

is born of God,

and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not

knoweth not God;

for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

We can love with God’s love when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, for He imparts to us not only His Spirit but also His love.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope of the glory

of God. …..

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.”    Portions of Romans 5:1-5

May we walk forward in true godly love, speaking and acting with the love of God, which we receive by His Holy Spirit when we are born again? Have a blessed and loving day—today and each day! I pray God’s greatest blessings on your day!