There are several descriptions for love in the Bible, the most famous and well-known verses being from 1st Corinthians 13. However this is an area where sadly, most believers stumble; thinking that they must somehow live up to this definition through their own struggling and effort.
My friends, if you have been trying to love through your own will-power, or you simply want to find the true source of love, this message is for you today.
There are countless books on the subject of love, all with completely different advice on how to achieve it. However there is only one book which not only paints a true and accurate picture of love, but also demonstrates it towards us and shows us the only way to receive and cultivate it in our lives… it is the Bible, the Holy Word of God.
Now some would argue that this is not so, that the Bible is filled with all manner of hate and murder. To this I must point out that the Bible does record the historical actions of men, and what they have brought upon themselves, but that is never the over-arching theme of the Bible nor any books within it.
As I have said before, the entire Bible is actually about Jesus and what He has done for us; as types and shadows in the Old Testament, as Himself in the New Testament, and as symbols in Revelation. The entire Bible is a picture book of Jesus, from every angle and in every way. It shows us His heart, His character, His love for us, and what He has accomplished for us through the cross.
Knowing this, it is error to look at the Bible and interpret it without the light of Jesus on the text. That is to say, if you still read the Bible as a rulebook, you will find nothing but teeth-grinding and frustration. Or as I am known for saying, “If you read a verse and you don’t see Jesus in it, then you are not done studying it yet.”
Having said that, let us now read the famous “love definition” from 1st Corinthians 13:4-8:
“Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,
Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they will fail; whether there be tongues, they will cease; whether there be knowledge, it will vanish away.”
It’s interesting that the words “Charity” and “Love” are from the same Greek word: agape.
No-one can do a work of charity without true love, and when someone tries to, it usually ends up hurting people because the motive and the intent is wrong.
This still leaves us with the original question though… How do we cultivate true love? Well the answer was hinted at in the name of this teaching. As we have been learning for the last few weeks, we are spiritually bankrupt without Christ Jesus in our lives. We are utterly incapable of saving ourselves, nor are we able to give anything to God, because our debt to Him is too great for us to pay. We are unable to produce any good thing from ourselves or or own self-effort. This my friends, is why Jesus came to save us; because we truly needed Him to do so.
True love is a good thing, and as such, we are unable to produce it of ourselves, but all is not lost. When Jesus is in our life, we can actively draw from and receive from Him all that we need in every area of our life. And the very first area which we should receive from Him is His love for us.
Now here comes the part which may shock some of you. The description of love which we read in 1st Corinthians 13, that is not a description of mere human love, but of God’s love.
God’s love is patient (long suffering), God’s love is always kind. When He corrects in love He is never harsh or hurtful. He never boasts or exaggerates, even though He is the only one who would truly have a right to do so. Even when Jesus walked on earth He never behaved unseemingly, but He always behaved as a king, even in His death. And He is the only one that never fails.
Do you see His love for you?
God’s heart for you is best seen in Jesus, in His life and in His death. He could have just come right down to earth and died immediately, but instead He spent time walking amongst us, teaching us, laughing with us, crying with us, healing all manner of sickness, disease and infirmity; even reversing death for those He had compassion on.
Then the one who created everything, the richest most powerful being in existence, the one who knew no sin, chose to become sin in our place and suffer all of our punishment, shame and reproach on that cross; for no other reason than that He wanted to spare us forever from that fate.
Two more verses and then we’ll close. John 16:27:
“For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
Make no mistake, if you believe on Jesus Christ, the Father loves you and sees you always. He cherishes you and has a special plan just for you that no-one else can fill.
And John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Even if you currently do not have a relationship with Jesus, as long as you still draw breath it is not too late. God loves you too, and is waiting for you to accept Him.
Regardless of whether you are currently a believer or not, the way that you receive God’s love is the same. Receive Jesus, let His love wash over you, recognize that He has paid the price for you to receive freely every blessing. That is the true definition of confession and repentance; to agree with the truth of Christ Jesus and change your mind regarding Him.
My friends, the only way in which we can ever truly love is to draw from the one and only source of it. Receive His love for you, and then you will no longer have an empty cup. You will be able to give freely, having first freely received.