Love is the core of Christianity and also the pinnacle of Christianity. God did not reveal love merely as one of His attributes. He did not say anywhere that He is loving<\/em> in the same way He is called Almighty God, Merciful God, or God of authority. Instead, when it comes to love, He declares: \u201cGOD IS LOVE.\u201d This means His very nature is love\u2014not just one of His qualities. Therefore, the word love<\/em> has a far deeper spiritual meaning than we often assume.<\/p>\n 1 John 4:16 \u2014 \u201cAnd we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The love spoken of in the Bible is not merely saying \u201cI love you,\u201d nor is it emotional love. It is love formed inside a person\u2019s heart, because its source is God, not human beings. It does not appear instantly when someone is born again.<\/p>\n In 2 Peter 1:5\u201310, love appears as the final step after six stages toward spiritual maturity:<\/p>\n 2 Peter 1:5\u20138 \u2014 You cannot jump to the last step and claim to have love while the earlier steps are missing. The final step is God Himself. Reaching this level requires effort and diligence\u2014not prayer alone and not the laying on of hands.<\/p>\n 1 Peter 1:22 \u2014 \u201cHaving purified your souls by obeying the truth\u2026 love one another earnestly from a pure heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 1 Peter 4:8 \u2014 \u201cAbove all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 1 John 4:20 \u2014 \u201cIf someone says, \u2018I love God,\u2019 and hates his brother, he is a liar.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Even if we speak angelic languages, have perfect faith, give all our possessions to the poor, or sacrifice our bodies\u2014without love, we are nothing before God.<\/p>\n Let us read 1 Corinthians 13:<\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 13:4\u20138 \u2014 You may give to the poor\u2014but do you have patience? Love is formed when all these qualities are built inside a person.<\/p>\n Colossians 3:14 \u2014 \u201cAbove all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n We must govern our lives by God\u2019s Word daily:<\/p>\n 1 John 4:12 \u2014 \u201cIf we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Let us diligently pursue love until we reach the Lord Himself, who is Love.<\/p>\n Be greatly blessed.<\/p>\n\n
\nThe Love of God Is Not Emotional or Verbal<\/h2>\n
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\u201cAdd to your faith goodness; to goodness knowledge;
to knowledge self-control; to self-control perseverance;
to perseverance godliness;
to godliness brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these qualities are yours and increasing, they will keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nLove Requires Diligence<\/h2>\n
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\nWhat Perfect Love Looks Like<\/h2>\n
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\u201cLove suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not boast; it is not proud;
it is not rude; it is not self-seeking;
it keeps no record of wrongs;
it rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.
Love never fails.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
You may prophesy\u2014but do you keep records of wrongs?
You may speak in tongues\u2014but do you forgive?<\/p>\n
\nLove Is the Bond of Perfection<\/h2>\n
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\nFinal Encouragement<\/h2>\n