Love is one of the greatest of all Christian virtues. Growing in love is a beautiful consequence of following Jesus. Read on to find out how you can grow in love.
“God’s love supply is never empty.” Max Lucado.
Before we dive into this blog, why not take a moment and pause? Ahead of you today are new opportunities, challenges, and experiences. Become mindful of your breathing for a moment. Inhale and receive the peace of God afresh. Exhale and release any worry or fear that’s built up inside of you. Use this space to prayerfully invite God in and ask Him to show you His love for you.
“Jesus, thank you for being with me. I commit my mind, body, and soul to you today. I receive your love and grace. Give me the strength to live unashamedly for you this week. I thank you that your love supply is never empty, Amen.” Love is described in scripture as the greatest of all Christian virtues; the crowning jewel of godly character. One of the most famous passages on love is found in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth was written about AD 53–54. Scholars suggest it was written in Ephesus, as the apostle confronted issues that arose within this developing church community. In this passage, Paul reminds his readers that everything is worthless if not done with love. "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 Paul then concludes: If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
On the one hand, this passage paints a beautiful picture of the God who doesn’t just show love but actively is love. On the other hand, it acts as a measuring rod by which we can examine ourselves to see whether this love resides in our hearts and manifests itself in our lives. It’s both a reassurance of how deeply we’re loved and an invitation to grow in love. Let's use 1 Corinthians 13 to propel us towards a thematic understanding of God’s radical, counter-cultural love throughout scripture. We’ll also consider how we can imitate that love ourselves. Love is more than talk and feeling. It’s action. Today establishes the baseline: Without love, everything is meaningless. As Christians, this is particularly challenging. Religious “chat” or good behavior won’t cut it. Raw, genuine and sacrificial love has to exude from everything we do. What’s your understanding of God’s love for you? How can you grow in your love for others? Take a moment to reflect on these two questions.
Now, pause and consider the best gift you’ve ever been given. For most, this is an interesting process. Often, we start with expensive presents. However, as we continue reflecting, other less flashy contenders appear. Things like our child’s first painting. Or the time our friend travelled cross-country to surprise us. This, we realize, is the real stuff. Instinctively, we all know that when something is done with love, it carries more meaning. If anything, however lavish, has been done as an afterthought, it feels empty.
There’s no point being a Christian if we don’t act with love. We can go to church. We can give generously. And we can talk about righteous-sounding topics. But if we’re not overflowing with love, we’ve missed the point. We’ve missed Jesus. When we use God's gifts without love, they lose their value. Love is that important. Living a Christ-centered life is less about what you do and more about the heart with which you do it. Why not join our love journey? Ask God for help, then contemplate how you can practically grow in this transformative virtue. Stir your hunger. How can you experience and showcase God’s never-ending love this week? Dear God, Thank you for loving me so deeply, even when I don’t deserve it. Show me how to live in your love today. Teach me to truly love those around me as I become mindful of how much I’m loved. Make me aware of opportunities to demonstrate your love to others. Give me courage to step out and do it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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