Love is a choice. It is not merely a state of emotion- emotions can change, and they do. Love is a consecration. While the world pushes a self-serving attitude, the Bible teaches that love is sacrificial. If you truly love someone, you will serve them. The father who works the majority of the day, comes home tired, and serves his wife by helping to repair the house is showing true love. The mother who wakes up at all hours of the night to care for her sick baby is showing true love. Love is a commitment. If you would give anything in the world to make them happy, you love them. When you pass over harsh statements and choose to think the best of the people who hurt you, you love them. If you are willing to lay down your life for a person, you love them.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16
God is Love. We have all heard that statement, but sometimes we forget the reality of it. God is the only One untainted by the curse of sin; therefore, His love is perfect. Because God is love, it is sacred and holy. When God chose to love us at Creation, it was for all eternity. He knew that He would have to give His Son to die for us. He knew that we would fail Him repeatedly, even when we have accepted His love. He knew that scores of people would reject the love that He gives, but He chose to love us still. The love He has shown towards us is so wonderful that it is hard to understand, but we must accept it by faith, and marvel in it!
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
It is easy to lose sight of the love of God as a Christian. We go about our duties, even doing them well, but we do them out of obligation, nothing more. We think that by faithfully fulfilling our duties we will gain more love and favor of God, and when we are finished, we wonder what level of favor we have reached. We look down on others who seem to do less at church or those who are not “in the ministry” and assume that God has more love for us because of what we do. Why is this? Don’t we realize that since we could not earn our salvation, we can never earn His love and favor? We accept His gift of salvation by faith: we must accept His love for our Christian walk the same way.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Acts 10:34
The truth of God’s love is that it never changes. When a man rejects God, the love of God still abounds towards Him. When a Christian refuses to submit to God’s will, the Father loves him just the same. When a man is totally sold out for God, seeking Him daily in prayer, reading His Word, and serving others, God still loves Him the same way He loved the man who rejected His love.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8
God is no respecter of persons; therefore, His love must be the same towards all. What a wonderful thought. If a person believes this, they can be as close to God as the Apostle Paul was, or the disciple whom Jesus loved- John.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Christian, don’t be discouraged when you fail. God understands that we are flesh, and wants us to rest in the strength His love gives every day.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14
The danger of the truth of God’s love is that some would misuse it. “He loves me no matter what I do!” they say in pride. Running about in sinful pleasure, they squander the life God has given them. God loves them just the same, it is true, but He will hold them accountable for their response to His love. At the Great White Throne, those who have ultimately rejected God’s love will be judged for their rejection of God’s love. They will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, every Christian will give account for his life. Both those who choose to squander their lives and those who serve God only out of duty will be ashamed before Him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
Every Christian should passionately desire to stand unashamed before Him. When a person gains the proper view of God’s love for him, he will respond with a heart full of awe to the God who showed such love towards him. God honors those who serve out of a heart of love.
It is possible to serve without love, but love without service is impossible. Service without love is vain, but love in service is priceless.
Take some time to meditate on God’s perfect love today. Do you love as Jesus loved? Do you choose to love the unlovely? Do you sacrifice your rights and desires for others? Do you serve without love, or are you so overwhelmed by God’s love that you cannot resist loving and serving Him every day?
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:16-21
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.