LOVE – by Joy Foster

The bible talks a lot about LOVE. It tells us that God is Love. It also emphasizes the importance of learning to love others as we love ourselves. We are even instructed to love our enemies. Something that we usually need to enlist the aid of the Holy Spirit to do. Jesus gave one of the greatest examples of loving our enemies when He said on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Forgiving others is a way to free ourselves from anger and resentment that does not harm our enemy, but causes us a lot of distress.

The word “love” is also a noun when it describes the feeling and not the action. The bible also tells us how love acts:  1 Corinthians 13:4–8a (ESV) “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

When we read how love acts, we can see that many who say that they love, do not act accordingly. Sometimes, when someone who has a heart that is not right, experiences an emotional attachment to another person, they claim to love them. However, that “love” can become cruel as they seek to control that person and do not really put the happiness of that person first. This emotional attachment can lead to domestic violence. Not everyone is capable of showing love. 

The bible tells us that there is nothing more important for a Christian than being able to love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 ^“ 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, but have not love, I am nothing.” Wow!… All these gifts will pass away when we leave here, but love will continue. One of the things people who have visited heaven share is the feeling of love that is there. Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone knew how to love? No wars, no crime, no need to protect yourself from attacks. You could walk the streets late at night with no fear.

Loving God and loving each other is the way that Jesus wants us to live. When we live this way, we will be able to live a life that is pleasing to God.