LOVE (pt. 2)
j.) Love does not delight in evil – Psalm 97:10 Let those who love the lord hate evil, for the guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers then from the hand of the wicked. (NIV) There is so much evil in the world, which is opposite of God’s original design. Murder, greed, hate, deception, idolatry, adultery and more is everything that God despises. God desires for His children to live upright and holy lives, but the enemy gets thrills from the wickedness of man.
k.) Love rejoices in truth – John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV) God is unable to lie. He is a God of truth and there is no deception that is found in Him. Lies come from the devil for he is the creator of them. Therefore, God takes no pleasure in the dishonest work of the enemy. Lying poisons anything the is pure. It is a tool that the enemy uses to destroy families, friends, and those in the Body of Christ. This is why God tells
l.) Love always protects – 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (NIV) God protects His children from harm and even though there are times when God may allow things to happen in the natural, He is always our constant protection in the Spirit because He never leaves us and is constantly with us to go through whatever the enemy throws our way. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (NIV)
m.) Love always trusts – Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV) God is a God of Truth and there is no deceit to be found in Him. Therefore, because God is love, trust is a major part of who He is and He calls for His children to place their trust in Him for He word never falls flat, but will fulfill everything that is meant for it to accomplish. Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
n.) Love always hopes – Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV) God fills His people with hope and in so doing, they develop faith. God wants the best for His people and He gives them a hope for their future. Psalm 39:7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” (NIV) All hope lies in God for He is the rewarder of those who love and serve Him. God will never let is children down and even though some things may not go in the manner that they may have desired, they can continue to keep hope alive in God that He knows what is best for them and in His timing, He will grant them the desires of their heart.
o.) Love always perseveres – James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (NIV) God never gives up on His children. He is there and longs for the love of His children even when the love is not reciprocated. God sent His son Jesus to die because the love that perseveres in His heart for everyone to be saved. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) God’s love perseveres despite rejection, hurt, and grief when His children fall away from Him. His love endures forever.
p.) Love never fails – Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. (NIV) God’s love keeps trying long after man would have given up. God continues to plead for His children to turn back to Him who have fallen away and for those who remain, He desires for them to be faithful. God’s love never fails, but it is man who has oftentimes failed Him. Yet, He loves with an everlasting love that is always solid and never conditional. Whereas man’s love can change or stop altogether, God’s love is consistent regardless of what we do wrong. This is why God’s love never fails. Psalm 36:5-7 (5)Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (6)Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. (7)How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. (NIV)
q.) Love is the greatest – John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (NIV) The world is full of people who do “good” things and yet the world is lacking love. Love is the most important quality to God to possess because when one has love, they will exhibit all the other traits that helps them to do good to their fellow man. To know true love is to know God because God is love. Mark 12:30-31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (NIV) Jesus emphasized two commandments with the first being to love God and then love each other, which summed them all up. Loving God was placed first because one cannot claim to love God, but have hatred for their brother. God is love and to know God is to know love. 1 John 4:20-21 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (NIV)
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