So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16
That is the purpose and meaning and all of the ‘why’ of God. Why Jesus? Love. Why creation? Love. Why me? Love. Why am I called and chosen? Love. If you love long enough with the Lord in these shadowlands you begin to realize the immensity of that … love. Why was Man created? Love. Why was Woman brought to the Man? Love. Why Children? Love. Why grandchildren? Love.
Jesus summed up the entire OT Law with this…
He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:26-27
What is the main ingredient in that? First love vertically (God), then love horizontally (neighbor). Love IS the answer, NOT the type of love the world gives and knows but the unconditional (agape) love of God. How is that type of love acquired? John says one will need to ‘abide’ in God. Agape love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that comes from Him abiding in us, and Him depositing it deep within us, and Him and us nurturing and learning about that …. love. Are you in conversation with the Holy Spirit daily? Is He teaching you? Are you hungry for Him? Do you yearn to know more of God? The more one knows Him the more you love Him, the more you want to know Him. That cycle is our purpose. He created us … to be loved by Him. He created us TO love, to love Him and those around us.
How exactly does one love well? The Holy Spirit teaches us how we are to do that, in our daily conversations with Him. Through humility, gratefulness, and repentance / confession we learn what love really is. As we go through our real adoration and worship of God we learn … agape love. We learn to love by purposely spending time with Him, being aware of His Presence at all times.
Paul recognized the absolute zenith of agape…
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
John recognized it too….
By this we know love, that He laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16
Jesus said…
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
What is the Holy Spirit teaching you about His love today? Ask Him today to teach you more about His love.