LOVE IS WHERE WE COME FROM.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God…” 1 John 3:1-2a
LOVE IS OUR PATH.
“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’” John 14:6
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:17
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:35
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24
LOVE IS A CHOICE.
God gave us free will. If love was not a choice, He would not have given His commandments to love.
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:12
LOVE IS FROM GOD.
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16b
“…for God is love.” 1 John 4:8b
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:1, 4-5
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5
LOVE IS OUR HOPE.
Love is where we are going. It is the goal we are reaching for in this phase of existence. It is the point of perfection we are putting our effort forth to reach. Perfect love will grant us complete victory over all sin and when we are possessed of it, we shall be perfect.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28
“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9
LOVE IS OUR STRENGTH.
Love is strong. It is the most powerful vibration in all of existence. It is our strength to use – especially in tough circumstances.
“[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
“Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:8a
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
LOVE IS OUR VICTORY OVER ALL SIN.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:6
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9
LOVE IS LIFE.
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:12
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” John 8:51
“And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” John 12:50
LOVE IS YOURS.
“All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:15
“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” John 15:9
TO LIVE…TO GIVE…TO BE,
LOVE IS
YOURS
— B. Payne
