February 16, 2025
“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. Matthew 25:45
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
After our recent recognition of Valentine’s Day this past Friday, I felt led to reflect on the topic of Love, but LOVE that truly matters: the love that never fades, never fails, and never depends on circumstances – GOD’S LOVE! While human love can be beautiful, it is often conditional and imperfect. But GOD’S LOVE – His AGAPE LOVE is a LOVE that is steadfast, sacrificial, unconditional, and life-transforming.
Sadly, we live in a world where love is often distorted by fleeting emotions, self-interest, and brokenness. In a world where many are searching for love in all the wrong places – in fleeting places. Let’s turn our hearts toward the love that truly counts, godly love, the love of Jesus Christ, the love that He demonstrated on the cross for an undeserving world.
LOVE is the central message of the Bible, God’s Holy Word and it is crucial to our understanding. God’s Love is not confined to humanistic type of love, nor is it primarily a feeling at all. The Word of God teaches that godly love is a commitment and a reflection of God’s heart. As a commitment, it is not dependent on our feelings, but rather on a consistent and courageous decision to extend ourselves for the well-being of another. That commitment then produces good feelings, not the other way around. Jesus became the perfect demonstration of God’s unconditional love for us by laying down his life for our benefit.
The Apostle Paul penned in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians gives us one of the most eloquent descriptions of love ever written. He makes it very clear that love is the heartbeat of who God is! Let’s turn our hearts toward the love that truly counts, the love of Christ
“Let’s remind ourselves of what Paul wrote! He says, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (NASB)
I love the Word of God because it gives us clear and unmistakable instructions how we are to love and live! This is a LOVE that requires grace, patience, and perseverance. It is a love that stands in stark contrast to the often self-centered, temporary, and conditional love that is prevalent in today’s society. A love which is countercultural – a culture that opposes or differs from mainstream values and behaviors! We live in a self-centered culture where love is often defined by how it benefits us. It does not embrace pursuing to love selflessly, sacrificially, and unconditionally, much like the love exemplified by Christ. Real love is demonstrated in serving, forgiving, and seeking the good of others – not when there is something to benefit from!
Are you demonstrating Christ-like love even to enemies and those who are difficult to love? Does your life reflect a love that gives rather than takes? How can you be a reflection of God’s love in your daily life by putting the past behind and walking in the freedom Christ purchased for you on the cross?
HOW CAN WE RELFECT THE TRUE LOVE OF GOD? We can reflect the real love of God by obeying HIM!
John 14:21 says, “ Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 21:15-17 says, “ After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”
Matthew 10:42. “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. We show our love for God by showing our love to those in need of support – not only those whom other can benefit from.
HEART CHALLENGE: In biblical counseling, the concept of “Put Off” vs. “Put On“ is rooted in Ephesians 4:22-24, where Paul instructs
believers to put off the old self and put on the new self, created in the likeness of God. When it comes to love, this principle applies to transforming our hearts from self-centered, worldly love to God-honoring, Christlike love. What are you PUTTING OFF & PUTTING ON?
| Put Off Worldly (Selfish Love) | Put On Godly Love, Christlike Love |
| Loving only when convenient (Luke 6:32-33) | Loving sacrificially, even when it’s hard (Luke 6:35) |
| Seeking love for personal gain (Philippians 2:3-4) | Seeking to serve and build others up (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) |
| Holding grudges and withholding love (Ephesians 4:31) | Forgiving and extending grace (Colossians 3:13) |
| Giving love to those who “deserve” it (Matthew 5:46-47) | Loving unconditionally, as Christ does (Romans 5:8) |
| Manipulating others to feel loved (Proverbs 3:3-4) | Resting in God’s love and loving freely (1 John 4:19) |
| Being impatient and demanding in relationships (Proverbs 14:29) | Practicing patience and self-control (1 Corinthians 13:4) |
| Keeping a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) | Rejoicing in truth and seeking reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) |
| Reacting with anger or selfishness (James 1:19-20) | Responding with kindness and humility (Ephesians 4:2) |
A TRANSFORMED 
HEART: A heart that reflects the Characteristics of Godly Love:
Unconditional – Loves even when it is not returned.
Sacrificial – Puts others before self.
Forgiving – Offers grace instead of holding grudges.
Enduring – Stands the test of time, trials, and offenses.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us clear instructions on how to love and live. Father strip away impatience, selfishness, pride, and conditional love. Teach us to love deeply, sacrificially to love beyond feelings, to love as You love in a fallen world. May our love be a reflection of Your heart Lord. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may walk in real love, one that reflects Your mercy and grace. Help us to put off the old ways of love and put on Your perfect love, that we may glorify You in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen
REFERENCES: Logos Bible Study, and Life Application Series