Loving others.

Loving others.

Luke 6:32 For if you love those who love you, what thank have ye? Even sinners love those who love them.
For many people, love others is a fuzzy concept. Fortunately, agape love is clearly defined in Scripture. When love is used as a noun in the Scriptures it refers to the character, for example. "God is love" (1 John 4: 8) "Love is patient, love is kind, etc ... (1 Cor 13: 4-8) Love is the highest conquest of nature: the goal of our instruction is love with a sincere heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1: 5) Love is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), the means by which a true disciple of Christ identifies (Juan 13:35) The attention given to love in passages like 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4 reveals his importance to God in our relationships, where the family is paramount.
Agape love is not dependent on the person that you love, but of a friend. Perhaps you someone who pleases him, but you love him because of who you are. God loves us not because we are lovable, but because God is love. If it were otherwise, then the love of God would be conditioned. If you behave better, I would love more God? Of course not. The love of God for us is not based on our performance, but in His character.
Love is also used as a verb in the Scriptures. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) Used in this way, love is grace in action. It is giving unconditionally to meet the needs of another.
If you say you do not love someone, you say more about you than the other person. Specifically, you're saying that you have not reached the maturity to love unconditionally (Luke 6:32) The grace of God allows you to love others in a way that people without Christ can not. God sends you that you like your family, your neighbors or colleagues because you can not order your emotions respond that way. But asks you love them. You can always choose to share love and trust your feelings will follow you over time.

By Neil Anderson
SENTENCE
Thank you Father for giving me the greatest love of all by sending Jesus. Teach me to love others as you have loved me, in Jesus' name, amen.