What is True Love?
Many in this world of hate and lies are trying to find someone they can trust and rely on. We wonder if there is something true that we can totally believe in. When a loved one betrays us and we find ourselves without a friend we can find One who is totally true and trust worthy. He alone can give us peace and hope. The future of this world is doubtful and the future seems uncertain but God alone can give us happiness and assurance. But you may wonder how His Word can be understood. He is so distant, so hard to understand.
The Bible assures us that if we seek Him we will find Him. Look at these wonderful promises:
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9
What does the Bible say about love? What is love? What does love have to do with obedience and the law?
We are told in the Bible that God is love. Read it in 1 John:
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
That is tremendous love, isn’t it? That is a love that is difficult to understand. God loved us before we knew Him. He gave all for us. That is a love that gives and cares for someone who is totally unmindful of that love. A parent of a tiny baby can experience that type of love. The baby cannot give love in return, it is totally dependant on the love of the parent. As the baby grows it becomes aware of the love of the parent and responds to the love shown by the parent. That is the rebirth of the Christian: as we see the love of God we respond to His love. As we learn more about God we can choose to become like Him and return His love or we can like the rebellious child reject Him and turn away. But He continues to love us. Not that He is happy with our rebellion but like the parent who sees their child playing in the busy street He wants very much to save us from our rebellion that He can see is about to destroy us.
Some say that Gods love is ‘unconditional’ and that once we are ‘saved’ it doesn’t matter what we do. While it is true that God loved us before we knew Him He does have claims on us and He does want the best for us. Just like the human parent wants the best for their child God wants us to be happy. And just like the human parent, God is wiser than we and knows what is best. Some say that we can’t obey God and that loving God doesn’t mean that we should obey Him. But what does the Bible say?
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12
These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:2&3
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.1 John 4:20&21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Romans 13:9
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, Deuteronomy 10:12
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deuteronomy 30:16
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Nehemiah 1:5
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.1 John 2:5
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.1 John 4:11
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. 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? 1 John 3:16&17
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 2 John 1:5&6
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:6 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30&31
Now if someone said that they loved their spouse what would happen? Would they go away for a long time and never write? Would they beat their spouse? Would they kill the spouses friends? Would they call that spouse names and cheat on them? No, not if the love is real. Real love is demonstrated by action. It is revealed in what is said and done. A person that loves you will want to be with you, they will treat you kindly, they will do anything to make you happy. So if you love God you will say and do that which is pleasing to Him. You will want to be with Him. You will treat Him kindly and will do those things that make Him happy.
Perhaps you are a sports fan. Think of how you would treat your favorite athlete if they were to come to visit you. If they were to tell you that they would be there Saturday would you show up on Sunday? Would you lie to him? Would you leave the house in a dirty mess? Would you call him names? Would you listen to him or would you ignore him while he was there? Would you pick a fight with his friends and family members? I doubt it. You would probably be kind and treat him with respect. You would show up on the day he specified. You would treat his friends and family with kindness and you would hang on his every word. Do you realize that a fan is someone who is a fanatic? That is where the word fan came from. Yet when someone suggests keeping Gods law it is common to hear them called a fanatic. If we treated God the way many treat a sports hero I guess we are a fanatic. I am God's "fan".
God tells us that we are to love our neighbor. We know from the illustration Christ gave in Luke 10:30-37 that our neighbor is anyone we come into contact with. You may ask, ‘How do I love my brother like the Bible says I should?’ That love ,my friend, is a gift from God. If you pray and ask Him to give you that love He will give it to you.
In 1 Corinthians 13 we can find a description of how to love. Read this chapter every day and it will change you into a loving person. Read different translations. You will be blessed.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
This love is not based on race or position but on Christian principles. By beholding we become changed. If we are beholding crime and violence we will become like a criminal or a violent person. If we behold Christ as we find Him in the Bible we will become like Him. We will see how He handled situations and we will become like Him.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
David wrote: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalms 101:3. He learned the evil of looking on the wrong things. See 2 Samuel 11 for this story. His admiration of a naked woman let him to murder. I’m sure it seemed innocent enough to him at the time but look at what unhappiness followed because of his selfish indulgence. If he had loved Uriah as a neighbor the way he should have he would not have even entertained the idea. Shouldn’t we learn from him the evils of pornography. God gave us this story of David so that we might avoid his mistake and keep ourselves right. If you have a problem with pornography memorize Psalms 101:3 and say it when you are tempted. Then follow the advise in Philippians 4:8 and choose those things that are pure, honest, just, lovely and true.
Christ says that if we harbor it in our heart it is as if we have done it. God wants more than the outward behavior He wants us to have a new heart. And He can give it to you if you ask. The Bible says: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ Psalms 51:10. We can claim that prayer as ours. God will do it for you, my friend. Ask Him.
Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
---Matthew 6:30-34
The Bible assures us that if we seek Him we will find Him. Look at these wonderful promises:
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9
What does the Bible say about love? What is love? What does love have to do with obedience and the law?
We are told in the Bible that God is love. Read it in 1 John:
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
That is tremendous love, isn’t it? That is a love that is difficult to understand. God loved us before we knew Him. He gave all for us. That is a love that gives and cares for someone who is totally unmindful of that love. A parent of a tiny baby can experience that type of love. The baby cannot give love in return, it is totally dependant on the love of the parent. As the baby grows it becomes aware of the love of the parent and responds to the love shown by the parent. That is the rebirth of the Christian: as we see the love of God we respond to His love. As we learn more about God we can choose to become like Him and return His love or we can like the rebellious child reject Him and turn away. But He continues to love us. Not that He is happy with our rebellion but like the parent who sees their child playing in the busy street He wants very much to save us from our rebellion that He can see is about to destroy us.
Some say that Gods love is ‘unconditional’ and that once we are ‘saved’ it doesn’t matter what we do. While it is true that God loved us before we knew Him He does have claims on us and He does want the best for us. Just like the human parent wants the best for their child God wants us to be happy. And just like the human parent, God is wiser than we and knows what is best. Some say that we can’t obey God and that loving God doesn’t mean that we should obey Him. But what does the Bible say?
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12
These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:2&3
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.1 John 4:20&21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Romans 13:9
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, Deuteronomy 10:12
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deuteronomy 30:16
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Nehemiah 1:5
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.1 John 2:5
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.1 John 4:11
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. 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? 1 John 3:16&17
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 2 John 1:5&6
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:6 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30&31
Now if someone said that they loved their spouse what would happen? Would they go away for a long time and never write? Would they beat their spouse? Would they kill the spouses friends? Would they call that spouse names and cheat on them? No, not if the love is real. Real love is demonstrated by action. It is revealed in what is said and done. A person that loves you will want to be with you, they will treat you kindly, they will do anything to make you happy. So if you love God you will say and do that which is pleasing to Him. You will want to be with Him. You will treat Him kindly and will do those things that make Him happy.
Perhaps you are a sports fan. Think of how you would treat your favorite athlete if they were to come to visit you. If they were to tell you that they would be there Saturday would you show up on Sunday? Would you lie to him? Would you leave the house in a dirty mess? Would you call him names? Would you listen to him or would you ignore him while he was there? Would you pick a fight with his friends and family members? I doubt it. You would probably be kind and treat him with respect. You would show up on the day he specified. You would treat his friends and family with kindness and you would hang on his every word. Do you realize that a fan is someone who is a fanatic? That is where the word fan came from. Yet when someone suggests keeping Gods law it is common to hear them called a fanatic. If we treated God the way many treat a sports hero I guess we are a fanatic. I am God's "fan".
God tells us that we are to love our neighbor. We know from the illustration Christ gave in Luke 10:30-37 that our neighbor is anyone we come into contact with. You may ask, ‘How do I love my brother like the Bible says I should?’ That love ,my friend, is a gift from God. If you pray and ask Him to give you that love He will give it to you.
In 1 Corinthians 13 we can find a description of how to love. Read this chapter every day and it will change you into a loving person. Read different translations. You will be blessed.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
This love is not based on race or position but on Christian principles. By beholding we become changed. If we are beholding crime and violence we will become like a criminal or a violent person. If we behold Christ as we find Him in the Bible we will become like Him. We will see how He handled situations and we will become like Him.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
David wrote: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalms 101:3. He learned the evil of looking on the wrong things. See 2 Samuel 11 for this story. His admiration of a naked woman let him to murder. I’m sure it seemed innocent enough to him at the time but look at what unhappiness followed because of his selfish indulgence. If he had loved Uriah as a neighbor the way he should have he would not have even entertained the idea. Shouldn’t we learn from him the evils of pornography. God gave us this story of David so that we might avoid his mistake and keep ourselves right. If you have a problem with pornography memorize Psalms 101:3 and say it when you are tempted. Then follow the advise in Philippians 4:8 and choose those things that are pure, honest, just, lovely and true.
Christ says that if we harbor it in our heart it is as if we have done it. God wants more than the outward behavior He wants us to have a new heart. And He can give it to you if you ask. The Bible says: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ Psalms 51:10. We can claim that prayer as ours. God will do it for you, my friend. Ask Him.
Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
---Matthew 6:30-34
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Tuesday, February 14, 2006
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