John 15:12 KJV – This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
I Corin. 13:1-8 AMP – If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (Gods love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
I John 4:8 AMP – He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
February is love month. Valentine’s day is a day for honoring, celebrating, and showing love to the ones you love. Valentine’s day is a day for symbolizing love through giving flowers, chocolates, jewelry, dinner, and other ways. This is just one day out of the year. We should be not only showing love, but actually loving others every day of the year according to John 15:12. This verse says that it is a commandment that we love each other. The word commandment does not mean it is suggested. It is a law. God is setting up a law for us to follow which is to love each other. This does not mean that we have to like everyone because we definitely will not. However, we still need to love them. In fact, I Corinthians 13 makes it clear that love is the foundation of all the other good things we are pursuing. For example, we can have all the faith in the world to expect a miracle, but if we do not have love, then we will not see results. Faith and all the other gifts of the Spirit will not work if we do not love. We have to focus on loving others.
There are four types of love identified by the Greeks and are categorized according to the motive. The first is Eros which is carnal and sexual and is really identified as pleasure of the flesh. The second is Philio which is identified as friendship. The third is Storge which is love in family. The fourth is Agape which is the divine love, unconditional love, and how God loves humanity. The love that we should be striving for is the Agape love. It is unconditional. This unconditional love is the same as how God loves us. We do not deserve God’s love and we would definitely not qualify for His love without his grace and mercy. Yet, he still loves us unconditionally and even sent Jesus, his ONLY son for us so that we could receive his grace and mercy.
If we decide that we don’t love someone because we don’t like what they do or that they get on our nerves, that is conditional. We are still commanded (remember it is a law) to love that person. This kind of love is not based on how we feel. It is a decision, not an emotion.
It is really self defeating to not obey the law to love because according to I Corinthians chapter 13, it is the basis for all the good things I need. My faith is futile without love. Even if I give to the poor, it means nothing if I do not love.
I Corinthians 13:8 says that Love never fails. It never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end. Love will not fail us. Verse 7 says that Love bears up under anything and everything that comes. In its truest sense, Love is God because I John 4:8 AMP says “He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.” The law to love is really then commanding us to give God to others – to love others – because God is Love.
It is not always easy to obey this command, but it is a necessity for our good. If things aren’t lining up for you, if your faith doesn’t seem to be producing results, if your good actions don’t seem to have any return, then examine your obedience to loving others. This is a key that we often overlook. Instead of emphasizing love one day a year, we must love others every day!