“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
“This is  My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:10-13

This morning I have been thinking on Biblical Love:  Below are some thoughts that might encourage you to look at Biblical love and give you some food for thought as you look at the relationships in your own life toward God and others…to see if you understand or perhaps need to be reminded – as we all do of what it means to Love God and love others. Below are some observations and Scriptural references to look up on the various aspects of Biblical Love. So if you want you can study the below verses on what the Scripture says regarding Biblical Love…you can and may they be a rich study of encouragement as you flame the fan of Loving Him who loves you best and those whom He has placed in your life…

Take Time To READ each Scriptural Reference and STUDY the Verses, and PRAY to Apply…

 

1.  Love is a COMMAND

 – Matt 22:37-38

2.  Love is a COMMITMENT –

Matt 19:5-6; John 14:15; 2 Cor 5:9- ; 1 Cor 10:31

3.  Love is a CHOICE 

– John 3:16; Gal 2:20 ; Eph 5:25 – Biblical Love is an act of the will…NOT BASED on feelings but on the Revealed Truth of God’s
Word.

4.  Love has a CAUSE –

Matt 22:37-38; 1 Jn 4:10,11,19; Eph 5:21; 1Peter 1:17

5.  Love is CONTINUOUS 

1 Cor 13:4-8 a verb “Love’s habit of life is to be continually patient with others, love’s habit of life is being continually kind to others, love is not being jealous…love is not inflated with  its own importance, Love is not arrogant, Love does not behave rude and inconsiderate of others feelings, Love is not Demeaning of others, Love is not Demanding, Love is not irritable, Love does not hold grudges against people, Love finds no delight in sin,  Love rejoices with the truth…love bears all things, Love believes all things, love hopes all things, love endures all things…love never decays or gives up”

6.  Love has CHARACTERISTICS – 

1 Cor 13:4-5 LOVE sacrificially serves others through choosing to being continually “patient…kind…joyful…truthful…bears all…thinking the best of others…hoping the best…enduring…The tenacity to “dig in.” Love never gives us. Never fails. Unlike a leaf that falls from a tree and decays…Love does not

7.  Love’s CAPACITY 

A. – to Love- 1 Thess 4:9-10; Rom 5:5 ;Phil 4:13; 2 Peter 1:3-4
B. – The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers – Eph 5:19;Gal 5:22

8.  Love’s COMMUNICATION

A. – SALVATION – Evidence of belonging to the Lord Jesus -Jn 13:34-35;
B. – SERVANTHOOD – Love serves and prefers others.- Gal 5:13-14 ;Col 1:10 ;Rom 15:2; Phil 2:3
C. – SPEECH – Speaking the truth in Love – Eph 4:15
What are you communicating? Whom are you presently preferring? Is your behavior communicating to others that you belong to the Lord Jesus?

9.  Love’s CORROSION

A. – Thinking un -Biblically – The opposite of Phil 4:8
B. – Speaking Un-Biblically – Eph 4:29
C. – Behaving un-Biblically – Unloving Actions- Eph 4:31

10. Love’s CORRECTION –

Matt 7:1,5; 1 Cor 11:31- Begins with Biblical examination of ones own actions and attitudes. Confession of Sin- 1 Jn 1:9; Repentance; Humility of Mind- Phil 2:5;Phil 4:8;Rom 12: 2

11. Love’s CHANGE –

Notice the words “Put OFF”  Eph 4:22 – “Renew” your mind – Eph 4:23 – “Put ON “-Eph 4:24; …“Put ON LOVE.”– Col 3:14. The person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus alone for eternal salvation having turned to God and trusted in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone- has the capacity to change…to live Sacrificially serving other people for the sake and joy of the Lord Jesus. The phrase “Put off” and “Put on.”… reminds me of a story regarding John Wesley the Godly follower of Jesus Christ who would travel from village to village and town to town sharing the Gospel on horseback. There were times when people would pelt him with rotten fruit. The first thing he did when he arrived at where he would stay was to change his coat and clothes- For he was not comfortable in dirty clothes. He “Put off” the clothes that had been pelted with the rotten fruit and chose to “Put On” clean clothes. So too, the follower of the Lord Jesus has the Power to do this.

But PARAMOUNT is that WE RENEW Our Mind’s...which is to see  and DO things from God’s perspective. {Read Romans 12:2} His desire is that we be loving people. Love that is, according to Gods standard- His Word- which is always right and true- Psalm 19:7-11;John 17:17.  We need to THINK Right – {Phil 4:8} and DO Right-{Phil 4:9}

12. Love’s CONSIDERATION –

is always the well being  of others – 1 John 4:7 ; Phil 2:3; In a society that is infatuated with self love, God would have the Focus on Loving others, for Jesus sake- 2 Cor 4:5

 

SUMMARY:

A.  The Problem –

is Living to Please self. Focusing primarily on self

B.  The Solution  –

is living to Please the Lord – and Focusing on Loving Him and others as your primary goal in every circumstance – Col 1:10; Matt 22:37-38

FOCUS CHANGE –

It means changing The Focus from self occupation to Christ Exaltation and  your spouses or others Edification – 1 Cor 10:31; Phil 2:3; Rom 15:2; Eph 4:16

Some Truths to Memorize, Meditate on and APPLY:

  1. John 13:34-35 –“By this ALL men will know you are my disciples by your LOVE for one

    Another.”

  2.  1 Cor 13:2-3 – ” If I …do not have love I am nothing…it profits me nothing.”

  3. John 13:14 – “If you love ME YOU WILL KEEP MY Commandments.”- Jesus Christ- {John 14:21};

 

God bless and encourage you to chose today to Express Love to God  by Exhibiting Love to those around you – Matt 22:37-38

You are Loved- Rev 1:5; Gal 2:20