The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8 GW
We know, by definition, that God is love. Our Father’s children do what Jesus did when the Son of God walked the earth. Jesus loved people. First and foremost, it was compassion that motivated everything that He did.
We could say that it was obedience that motivated Him because He only did what His Father wanted Him to do. However, if the Father loves us so much that He sent His Son to redeem sinful humanity, we know that the Father loves us, saints and sinners alike.
The obedience of Jesus was the instrument God used to display His love for us.
Why am I talking so much about obedience? Because sometimes we prioritize the outward actions ahead of the relational motivation.
We obey God’s voice because we know He loves us and we love being in the center of His perfect will. If we disobey, we know He still loves us, we’re just missing the mark. Jesus never missed. He is sinless. Jesus loved at all times. Always has, always will.
How are we doing? How can we gauge the temperature of our love? What do we do when we see ourselves falling short? Scripture has the answer. The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin. He will point out to us when we are falling short of who God created us to be. We confess our sins to one another, pray for one another, and God heals our relationships.
I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing. I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 GW
Love builds others up. Knowledge puffs up. Pride tears others down. It doesn’t matter how wonderful you are, how talented and gifted, knowledgeable and experienced, how much you’ve accomplished, if you don’t love you are nothing and you don’t truly know God. Let’s start there with how we make disciples.
Love first. Love God. Love people. Keep those commandments. Put them into practice. Everything else builds off that foundation of abiding in God’s love.
How’s our love index? Are we loving? Let’s do a self check.
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 GW
If you missed the mark, confess it as sin. God still loves you. We’re not saved by our own effort. When we realize how loved we are, in spite of ourselves, how can we not afford that same grace to others?
Father, mold us and make us into Your image and likeness. Let us love like You do. Amen.
Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.
1 John 4:21 GW
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