"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
(1 Cor. 13:13 NKJV)
Love. The most powerful force known to human nature. Out of love for His creatures, the Lord Jesus came to earth and lived among us in our fallen state, and was killed by us. He then defeated the grave by rising from the dead! Now He lives in heaven preparing a place for His beloved creatures and interceding daily and our behalf.
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16).
If we did not have this perfect Example, we would have no clue as to what - Who - life is about. We would have no idea how to treat other people. Life would be vain. worthless. grasping at the wind. Why? What's it all for?
It's all about Him.
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deut. 6:5).
We are to love Him with every fiber of our being.
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation" (Ps. 91:14-16).
This is the love-trust relationship that every child of God can have with the Father. Having received His love and His promise never to leave us; and knowing that He is in control of all things, we can confidently set our love on Him. He will never let us down.
Just as the sun is the center of the universe, He needs to be the Center of our lives. He is the Source of our life, our strength, our existence. As such, we ought to make His "centerness" in our life the object of all our effort and passion. This will be the driving force behind all we do. We will be set on Him.
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Eph. 5:1-2) KJV
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth"
(1 Jn. 3:18).
Loving God in our hearts will result in loving others with our words, attitudes, and actions.
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Rom. 13:8).
With God at the center, and our minds, mouths, and hands all occupied with love for Him and service to Him (in the form form of service to others), that leaves no room for you-know-who. [cringe]
Yes, that little person sulking right there - you....me.
Nowhere does the Bible say to love yourself. Why? Because we are born selfish.
We cannot love ourselves and love God - not wholly like He commands. One has to go.
Determining factor:
It's NOT about me.
It's ALL about God.
Not only does the Lord tell us to love others, He says to love them like HE loves US!
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren...My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:16,18).
"Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all" (Phil 2:17).
His love is a sacrificial love. His love is an unconditional love. His love is a lasting love. HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS.
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work"
(2 Thess. 2:16-17).
"freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8b).
