I am surrounded by voices in books, videos, podcasts, and more with, “It’s all about love!” The essence of the cross of Christ, the aim of all prophetic utterances, the crux of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, the basis for all social work and all teaching, the reason for families. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

So, I can speak with tongues of men and angels, prophecy, understand mysteries and know everything, have strong faith, give all I have to the poor, or die a martyr’s death, but if I do it without love, it means nothing but a clanging cymbal or vocal cacophony. It is said God’s Great Exchange is Jesus Christ paid a debt He did not owe for a debt we could not pay. He did it all for love; the goal being reconciling us to our Father God.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

What is love? Love is the essence of God, displayed in Jesus Christ, administered by the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at what this all means.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, against such there is no law.

We want these fruits in our life, but how do they grow? Human nature is bent toward selfishness and evil from birth. We are not naturally joyful, peaceful, or longsuffering. It takes conscious effort to show kindness, goodness or faithfulness to others; especially if they are not like us. Some personalities are more prone to these virtues, but even they don’t go far when pushed.

It is clear from Scripture that there is none righteous besides God. We may pat ourselves on the back for our achievements when comparing ourselves amongst ourselves, but our ultimate comparison is to the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Again, He knew no sin, but became sin for us to save us from ourselves and bring us back to our Father. No wonder we have an orphan spirit until we find our way to Him through Jesus’ sacrifice and victory! The Apostle Paul urges us to meditate on these things:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

We need to look through God’s eyes of love to see these things. What is true? What is noble? What is just? What is pure? What things are lovely? What things are good to report? What is virtuous? What is truly praiseworthy?

All these things as well as the fruits of the Spirit are attributes of God. If we want to know genuine love, we must think the way God does and speak the way His love does. Shawn Bolz says we should not look at the person in front of us the way they appear, but look into God’s love to see His ultimate plan for them and speak that into their life.

Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, NOTHING can ever separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus! We are safe and secure in this life, no matter what threatens our peace. My prayer for you all is that you grow in the revelation of God’s love. That you may find the way to abide in Him, letting your roots grow deep in all He has for you. May the fruits of God’s love shining through you overcome every wile of the enemy, every tactic that keeps you from loving others. Shalom, my dear ones. Have a wonderful week walking with Jesus!