The Love Chapter

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Since this Sunday is Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be good to focus on love from a biblical perspective as we close out this week together. There is a chapter in the Bible that is often referred to as “The Love Chapter,” but make no mistake, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a book that is all about love, and that is the most important message its Author wants us to understand. Read on and be encouraged today!  

Whether you find yourself at a wedding between Christian believers or unbelievers, you will likely hear some of the words from 1 Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter. And why not? Never has pen been put to paper with a better description of true love. You see, the challenge we face in this fallen and broken world is that lust gets confused with love. Lust is inner-directed and focused on the self. But love, from a biblical perspective, is outer-directed and focused on others. And that focus, as you know, runs counter to our natural inclinations. However, when God changes our hearts, we can begin to express true, biblical love to the world around us.

But there is something very important that we must keep in view regarding biblical love, and that is the important role it plays in our lives. First, the whole Law is summed up by one word: love (Romans 13:10). Second, love sums up the Christian’s responsibilities in this life (John 15:17). And finally, love is the crowning virtue of all other virtues, as we see in today’s passage. And why should it not be? God Himself is love (1 John 4:8), and if we are to reflect Him in this world, we are to love as He loves — loving everyone unconditionally, selflessly, and completely.

Remember, everything God did and does is an expression of His love, and that includes the great and gracious gift of salvation . . . for God so loved you (John 3:16). God loved you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and sent His son Jesus to die on a cross to bring you into a right relationship with Him. Now, that is a love that is not only worth dying for, but living for too!

This Valentine’s Day, take some time to share God’s love with someone, because His love is the love that will last throughout eternity. His love changes lives. We love because He first loved us.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!