In today’s world, we do not love as we should.

As stated in the Bible in 1st Corinthians Chapter 13, Paul is talking about real love and Chapter 14 shows how love works. Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body.

Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God’s love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. God’s love is unselfish. The more we become like Christ, the more love we will show toward others. It is a grand thing to be loved and even grander to love. Love comforts as sunshine after rain. Love brings happiness and not pain.

Romans 12th Chapter is talking about a personal responsibility and living sacrifices. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service to Him.

When we love, we do not mind giving.

The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. When we give generously, God will always take care of us.

Blessings come from giving. I am experienced with receiving blessings when I open my heart and let the Lord lead me according to his will and not my own. God blesses me in return.

As I go about doing the work of the Lord by way of evangelizing and the outreach ministry, I encounter so many young men who this love has not been shown. As a result, they turn to crime either out of anger or just needing to be loved and nurtured.

As a servant of God, I am commanded to pray for these people in going about doing the work of an evangelist. There are some tough situations that almost knock me off my feet. That is when I have to go down on my knees and ask for the Father’s help. Some die lonely because they were not shown love. Some fall through the cracks because of neglect and abuse. Some die a senseless death because they failed to learn or accept God’s love for them.

Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Even if we as parents are more demanding and do not show love and mercy, our children will rebel.

Correction done in love and compassion will get more results than using harsh and demeaning words. That does not produce God’s blessings. It only opens up a door for the enemy to come in and destroy us.

Discipline must also be done to a degree not to destroy a child or his future, hopes and dreams. But, it must be done with hopes to save them from destruction. Prayer, fasting and trusting in the Lord’s word will see us through. Love will make you go that extra mile when you feel like giving up. Love is long suffering and does not render evil for evil. It does not behave rudely or in a rage.

Love is the most powerful thing one can experience.

Love can be described as a mother counseling a hurting child or a father protecting his family from harm. It can also be described as a neighbor lending a helping hand, a friend taking time to listen to feel another’s pain or to rejoice in another’s success.

Love can be shown in many ways and knows no boundaries.

Love is action and it reaches beyond any differences. It brings about unity.

The language of love is one that everyone can understand and need. This is because God created us in love and he made us to love. We could ask what love really is and the correct answer is, God is love. (1st John Chapter 4, verse 16).

In order for true love to exist in our lives, it has to originate from God. A portion of John 3:16 tell us for God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son. When did Christ love us? He loved us when we were not worthy, righteous or good. Romans 5:18 tells us that God demonstrated his love for us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s plan to restore us to a right relationship to him by sending his Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins shows that God loves us very much. None of us are worthy of his love, but it reaches to everyone.

We should respond to his love by obeying him and loving others. The most important commandment as Jesus stated and demonstrated, is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Secondly, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. That does not necessarily mean the person living right next door, but across the entire university.

That love means always wanting and seeking the best for others.

Love means reaching beyond the fault to meet the need.

Love means forgiving as many times as I am wronged.

Love means praying for and blessing our enemies.

Love means sharing the gospel of Jesus and sharing the message of hope with the lost, dying, lonely, imprisoned, helpless and hurting people. That means if a person is already down and needs help, do not step on him when he is already in trouble. Reach down and help him up. In doing so, the Bible says we are doing it unto the Lord.

All of our blessings come from the Lord and too much is given, much is required. True love will stand the test of time. We need love while we can because tomorrow is not promised to us.

Closing prayer: “Our Father in heaven, we praise you for loving us, so we can love you and our neighbor. This is beyond anything or any measure we deserve. Lord, help and teach us how to love as you love us. When we have reached our limitation with one another, please step in and empower us with your love to go that extra mile. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”