Embedded Files
Want news and deals?
CLOUDED
A lawyer came to Jesus and asked Him what He thought the greatest commandment was. Jesus appealed to the Scriptures to answer, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Similarly, the second is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). While presenting Christian characteristics, Paul told the Colossians:
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:14
In 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, the characteristic of love is called “the greatest”—better than miraculous gifts, greater than faith, and longer lasting than hope. The Holy Spirit gives us this understanding of love:
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Long before it was used in wedding ceremonies, this passage of Scripture has taught disciples of Jesus how to treat—not just their spouses—but also the Lord their God, their neighbors, and their brothers and sisters in the faith. Why are the Scriptures so emphatic on the Christian’s need to exhibit love?
A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7–8
If God truly is love, and He is, then it only makes sense for you and me to become like Him.
Discussion Question: In what ways has God shown His love toward us, and how should that affect the way we live?
Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation
Google Sites
Report abuse