And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love; and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him
(1 John 4:16)
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There is nothing — absolutely nothing — that is more important than learning to love. In fact, the level of perfection achieved in your love life will determine how much you will attain from God's perfect will. That explains why every spiritual force comes from love. For example, the Bible says that faith works by love. It is almost impossible for prayer to be answered if the believer gets out of love and refuses to forgive his brother.
If you have no love, your offerings will serve you nothing. The gift of tongues and prophecy will not work either. Your faith will be a failure and your knowledge will not bear fruit. All the truths that you have learned from the Word of God work for love. They will not be useful unless you live in the love of God.
In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, a perfect picture of the behavior of love is shown: it is patient and benign. He is not jealous or proud. He does nothing wrong, is not selfish and does not get irritated. Love: "He suffers everything, he believes everything, he expects everything, he endures everything" (verse 7).
It seems like a very demanding list, right? But don't despair. You are a creature of love. Your spirit has been recreated by God in the image of love, and He has sent His Spirit of love to live in you and teach you to love as He loves. You can start enjoying the life of love that God wants you to live. Start today.
But God shows his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5: 8)
The Holy Scriptures tell us that love is the very essence of what God is (1 Jn 4.7). So, if you don't believe that He loves you unconditionally, you will never really know Him or have genuine peace in your relationship with Him.
How to define love? It is Jesus generously reaching humanity, giving himself to us and bringing good to our life, whether we accept Him or not. Romans 5.8 tells us that his love and concern for us are so immense, that he gave his life for us when we were still his enemies. The Bible says that He began to express his love to us even before the foundation of the world (Eph 1.3-5). This means that our actions had absolutely nothing to do with the love that He has for us!
God's interest in us has no condition or restriction, and is not based on our reciprocal love. Nor does He have more love for "good" people who might seem more worthy. He loves us even when we are in sin, even if we have not repented. Does this give us license to disobey? No, it gives us power to live in holiness, walk in obedience to the Lord, and learn to love him in the way that He deserves. To obey Him is to receive the love that God has been offering from the beginning.
But, to experience that wonderful and absolute love that God has for us, you must accept it. Say yes to this extraordinary gift that He wants to pour on you. Delight yourself and let it spill on those around you.
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The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways.
2 Pedro 3:9
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