Tuesday February 14th, 2023
Meditate on: 1 John 4:8 NKJV
« Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love »
Read: Matthew 22:35-40 CEV
35 One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking,
36 “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
38 This is the first and most important commandment.
39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.”
40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.
Understand:
Love can be defined as a strong feeling of affection for someone, emanating from a firm decision to love that person.
The Bible offers us an understanding of the source, character and value of love based on nature and actions of God. It teaches that God is the source of love and that His very character is love.
If you have ever been so deeply and passionately in love with someone to the point of obsession, you may actually lose your appetite and forget to eat. Your mind may become occupied of nothing else but that person. The object of your love is that last thing you think of when you go to bed and the first thing you think of when you wake up. It is clear from these descriptions that love involves the totality of a person.
Love is central theme of the Bible, and is a primary characteristic of God’s nature.
It is also the fundamental demand that God places on mankind towards fellow human beings.
From the words of Jesus in today’s Bible reading, it is clear that we are expected to love God first with all our heart, soul and mind.
However, we need to experience the love of God in our hearts before we can truly appreciate what true love is, and only then can we demonstrate this love to others.
The love of God is revealed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as stated in John 3:16,AMB which say:
« For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. »
Out of love, God gave His only begotten (one and only) Son as ultimate ransom for the salvation of humanity.
He now commands everyone who has partaken of His love to reciprocate it by loving one another.
Speaking in John 15:12, the Lord Jesus Christ said:
« This is my most important commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. »
The Bible makes it very clear that love is revealed through action, especially what is done in the interest of others.
Children of God should never be identified with envy, hatred, pride, selfishness or any form of wickedness, as all these are contrary to the nature of God they possess.
We should naturally show forth gentleness, goodness and kindness to our neighbors.
As Christians, let us always radiate the love of God with humility, patience and joy.
Love is greater than all spiritual gifts, as the best of these gifts is useless without love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says:
« 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, and I don’t have love, I am nothing.”
Beloved, are you walking in the love of God?
Prayer point: Father, please help me to love You with all my heart, soul and mind in Jesus’ Name.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it ♥
