Love Like The Lord And Be A Light

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8

Theologian A.W. Tozer once stated, “Nothing God ever does, or ever did, or ever will do, is separate from the love of God.

How Does The Bible Describe Love?

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” This famous quote came from the 1970’s movie Love Story. As a young teen, a friend and I went to see it in the theater with her mother. As best as I can remember, a young couple found out that the wife was dying. I’m not sure that they are connected, but I also remember a slew of refrigerator magnets with a young couple bearing similar quotes about what love is.

Love is when you both choose the same path.
Love is sleeping in.
Love is a close-knit family. (wrapped in a sweater)
Love is walking hand in hand.
And many, many more.

But that is not how the Bible describes love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love is not envious.
Love is not boastful.
Love is not proud.
Love is not rude.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love is not easily angered.
Love does not keep track of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil.
Love rejoices in truth.
Love protects.
Love trusts.
Love always hopes.
Love always perseveres.
Love never fails.

How Does God Show Love?

God does not merely show love, but He is love. That means if we read the list above in the light of Who God is, we see that:

God is patient. (2 Peter 3:9)
God is kind. (Titus 3:4-5)
God is not envious. (2 Corinthians 11:2)
God is not boastful. (Proverbs 16:5)
God is not proud. (Proverbs 16:18)
God is not rude. (Ephesians 4:29)
God is not self-seeking. (John 3:16)
God is not easily angered. (Psalm 103:8)
God does not keep track of wrongs. (Psalm 103:12)
God does not delight in evil. (Ezekial 18:32)
God rejoices in truth. (Zechariah 8:16-17)
God protects. (Hebrews 13:6)
God trusts. (Ephesians 1:4-6)
God always hopes. (Romans 15:13)
God always perseveres. (Galatians 6:9)
God never fails. (Isaiah 46:10)

How Does God Call Us To Love?

Jesus was our example of how we are to show love to others. Jesus lowered Himself to the position of house servant as he knelt to wash His disciple’s feet. And then He instructed them to do the same. (John 13:34-35)

He tells us to love our neighbors and live in peace with everyone as much as possible (Romans 12:18). We are to turn the other cheek if someone slaps us. If sued, we are to give them more than they ask of us. When forced to walk a mile, voluntarily walk two miles. Give to the beggars on the street corner and to those who ask to borrow from us. Love our enemies, and pray for those who hate us (Matthew 5:38-48).

Wow! Some of these are pretty harsh. I mean, I could take issues with a lot of them. Okay, I get the command to live in peace with our neighbors or the encouragement to pray for our enemies, but walk two miles when I’m only required to walk one!? I won’t lie; that’s going to be hard!

Aww! But the confounding of the wise is where God receives the glory. When the world sees us being friendly to those who are mean, showing kindness to the unlovely, or putting out the extra when only a small amount is required of us, they will see that we are different. Our light will be shining, and that light will shine on the Father Who will receive all the glory. May His name be praised!