Love Does
Love does so many things. Love can cover a multitude of sins. Love treats others with kindness. Love is patient with others when they do, say, or act in ways that may not be the most appropriate. Love hopes the best. Love endures when a lesser commitment would abandon ship. Love gives and does not expect anything in return. Love forgives rather than hold grudges. Love does wonderful things for others. The bible says God is love.
There is another way to look at love. We can look at love from the viewpoint of the one doing the loving and the one being loved. First, God as the one doing the loving and we are being its recipients. God loves you and me. We know what that looks like. He gave so we could have an abundant life both now and forever.
Second, we are the one doing the loving and God is the recipient. The Great Commandment is what? To love God with every amount of energy we have in our bodies, hearts, and souls. Our spiritual relationship with God hinges on our love for Him. To love Him, we need to know Him personally. The more we know Him the more we come to love Him. So far so easy, in a way.
Third, we are the ones doing the loving and our enemies are the ones on the receiving end. This is by far the hardest for any follower of Jesus to live out. It’s radical. It is not emotional love. It is a call to action. What kind of action, prayer!
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44 NIV
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