Love defined
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 KJV Charity (read: Love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (read: Love) envieth not; charity (read: Love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (read: Love) never faileth …
+Note: the translator used the word “charity” here for the Greek “agape”
God is Love
1 John 4:7-8 KJV Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
+Note: the translator used the word “love” here for the Greek “agape”
Love thy neighbor
Leviticus 19:18 KJV Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
+Note: Love in this instance is the same Hebrew word used in Deuteronomy, such as “thou shalt love the LORD thy God”
Matthew 5:43-45 KJV Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven …
+Note: the translator used the word “love” here for the Greek “agape”
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Considering the scriptures above - if we’re being really honest with ourselves - it takes a lot of strength, effort, time, and sacrifice to live out this Love in a real way. Love is both a noun and an action verb at the same time.
When we accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we acknowledge the new creation we become. We acknowledge that this new creation is one of the building blocks of the temple on earth of the Holy Spirit of God. As demonstrated in the life of Jesus, an aspect of God's perfect design is that His good will and His power gets accomplished in the world through those who serve Him.
We facilitate the Spirit-led purposes and works in today’s world according to the good will of the Father. God is not stuck living in the past. He is as present and active in the modern world as He was in the ancient world. God is not changing! Jesus went to the people – where the sinners were – and we need to be doing the same now. The church is not a building, but a community of people who have been restored to life and called to draw people toward ever-living God like a light in the darkness.