When it comes to love, there are various matters of it which need to be discerned. Love is to be genuine. (i.e. Romans 12:9) Love is to be properly placed. (1 John 2:15) Love is to bear godly characteristics. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Without love, life’s actions are actually full of emptiness. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) We are also to love as the Lord has loved us. (John 13:34) All of these are significant matters associated with true love! Love matters!
Our willingness to love also matters relative to our relationship with God as John stated. . .
“(7) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (8) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 ESV)
According the John, the degree to which we love says something about how well we know God! To understand love is part of God’s very essence, being His child would mean to also share that likeness! Love matters!
John went on to write. . .
“(19) We love because he first loved us. (20) If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (21) And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:19-21 ESV)
Are we a true lover or a liar? What is our life revealing? Relative to our relationship with God and others, love matters tremendously! True love has been initiated by God, is received into our own life, and is to move from us to touch the lives of others. Love for God and others is to be acknowledged as foundational (i.e. Matthew 22:37-40) to our life in connection with all we do and say! Love matters! May love — as God has defined it and revealed it — remain a matter of importance to us!
Have a great day ACKNOWLEDGING THE MATTERS OF THE LOVE THAT MATTERS!
Carl
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(“teEn-MAIL” is sent out daily by Carl Hanson, preacher for the Church of Christ in Port Townsend, Washington, USA, located at 230 A Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Come visit us if in the area.)
