Summary
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, this article defines Christian love as a practical, sacrificial commitment grounded in God's grace rather than mere emotion. Love manifests through patience, humility, honesty, forgiveness, and the daily mortification of selfish impulses—requiring willingness to complicate one's life for others' needs, pursue unity over being right, and make costly sacrifices without expectation of reciprocation. The author emphasizes that authentic love depends fundamentally on God's enabling grace, as human capacity for cruciform (cross-shaped) love is insufficient without divine strength.
Questions Answered in This Article
What does the Bible say about love?
The Bible describes love as patient, kind, and selfless, emphasizing its enduring nature in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
Apart from this definition, biblical love encompasses more than just feelings; it involves the active expression of commitment and sacrifice. A clear example is found in John 15:13, where Jesus states, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." This indicates that love is demonstrated through action and even self-sacrifice, aligning with the essence of God's love for His people seen throughout Scripture.
How do we know love is important for Christians?
Love is fundamental for Christians as it reflects God's character and is essential for fulfilling the law, as stated in 1 John 4:8 and Matthew 22:37-40.
The importance of love is further manifested in the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who declares in Romans 13:10 that "love is the fulfillment of the law." This means that all moral obligations are encapsulated within the practice of love, urging Christians to engage in relationships characterized by selflessness, patience, and mutual support. By embodying love, Christians not only honor God but also reflect His character to the world.
Why is loving others a daily commitment for a Christian?
Loving others requires daily commitment to overcome selfish instincts and promote unity, guided by God's grace and example.
Moreover, loving others is a reflection of God’s love and grace in one’s life. Daily commitments to love, forgive, and seek reconciliation not only demonstrate a transformed heart but also contribute to the unity of the body of Christ. As believers are filled with God's Spirit, they are empowered to love with a selfless and enduring love, exemplifying the love that Christ showed by laying down His life for humanity.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails!" - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
LOVE IS... being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others without impatience or anger.
LOVE IS... actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward another while looking for ways to encourage and praise.
LOVE IS... making a daily commitment to resist the needless moments of conflict that come from pointing out and responding to minor offenses.
LOVE IS... being lovingly honest and humbly approachable in times of misunderstanding.
LOVE IS... being more committed to unity and understanding than you are to winning, accusing, or being right.
LOVE IS... a making a daily commitment to admit your sin, weakness, and failure and to resist the temptation to offer an excuse or shift the blame.
LOVE IS... being willing, when confronted by another, to examine your heart rather than rising to your defense or shifting the focus.
LOVE IS... making a daily commitment to grow in love so that the love you offer to another is increasingly selfless, mature, and patient.
LOVE IS... being unwilling to do what is wrong when you have been wronged, but looking for concrete and specific ways to overcome evil with good.
LOVE IS... being a good student of another, looking for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs so that in some way you can remove the burden, support them as they carry it, or encourage them along the way.
LOVE IS... being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine, and understand the relational problems you face, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response.
LOVE IS... being willing to always ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested.
LOVE IS... recognizing the high value of trust in a relationship and being faithful to your promises and true to your word.
LOVE IS... speaking kindly and gently, even in moments of disagreement, refusing to attack the other person's character or assault their intelligence.
LOVE IS... being unwilling to flatter, lie, manipulate, or deceive in any way in order to coerce the other person into giving you what you want or doing something your way.
LOVE IS... the willingness to have less free time, less sleep, and a busier schedule in order to be faithful to what God has called you to be and to do as a spouse, parent, neighbor, etc.
LOVE IS... a commitment to say no to selfish instincts and to do everything that is within your ability to promote real unity, functional understanding, and active love in your relationships.
LOVE IS... staying faithful to your commitment to treat another with appreciation, respect, and grace, even in moments when the other person doesn't seem deserving or is unwilling to reciprocate.
LOVE IS... the willingness to make regular and costly sacrifices for the sake of a relationship without asking for anything in return or using your sacrifices to place the other person in your debt.
LOVE IS... being unwilling to make any personal decision or choice that would harm a relationship, hurt the other person, or weaken the bond of trust between you.
LOVE IS... refusing to be self-focused or demanding, but instead looking for specific ways to serve, support, and encourage, even when you are busy or tired.
LOVE IS... daily admitting to yourself, the other person, and God that you are unable to be driven by a cruciform love without God's protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing, and delivering grace.
Comments
Your comment has been submitted and is awaiting moderation. Once approved, it will appear on this page.
Be the first to comment!