The following illustrates the powerful love of God towards man. When God was about to create man, says a Jewish legend, He took into His counsel the angels that stood about his throne. “Create him not,” said the angel of Justice, “for if you do, he will commit all kinds of wickedness against his fellow men; he will be hard and cruel and dishonest and unrighteous.” “Create him not,” said the angel of Truth, “for he will be false and deceitful to his brother-man, and even to You.” “Create him not,” said the angel of Holiness, “he will follow that which is impure in your sight, and dishonor you to your face.” Then stepped forward the angel of Mercy (God’s best beloved) and said: “Create him, our Heavenly Father for when he sins and turns from the path of right and truth and holiness I will take him tenderly by the hand, and speak loving words to him, and then lead him back to You.”1 Man is a love product of a love God. He was created in love. Man is sustained by love. And, when He comes to know Jesus as His personal Savior, the very love of God is shed abroad in his heart. By that very love of God, we live and move and have our being. How can we today, allow that love which is already in us to dominate our lives?
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The Bible Definition of the Love of God
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (AMP) — 4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
- Love’s definition appears in the First Corinthians thirteen.
- If you desire to know what love is and how it can dominate your life, read this definition.
- But, not only read it, quote it continually.
- Speak it into your very heart and then in the face of the contrariness of human selfishness act on these words.
- Augustine of Hippo said the following:
Love all men, even your enemies, not because they are your brothers, but that they may become your brothers; that you may be at all times on fire with brotherly love, whether toward him that has become your brother, or toward your enemy, so that, by being beloved, he may become your brother.2
- Jesus introduced this new kind of love to His disciples and commanded them to love others with this new love.
Matthew 5:33–34 (AMP) — 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord [as a religious duty]. 34 But I tell you, Do not bind yourselves by an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
- This agape love to which Jesus was referring when He said “love your enemies,” is a love that reaches out to others because it sees them as valuable and precious, not because of their conduct.
- This love is not dependent on the character or outward conduct of others.
- It is a selfless, self-sacrificial love that desires to reach out and bless others regardless of their response.
- God’s love dosen’t find its basis on the character of the one loved, but on the character of the one who is loving.
How to Let the Love of God Dominate Your Life
- Remember, first that you are not trying to get more love.
- Many believers, when facing people struggles, reach out in prayer asking the Father to give them ‘more love,’ so they might overcome.
Romans 5:5 (AMP) — 5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
- The love of God is already in you.
- Use what you have, and it will grow until it dominates your life.
- Constant use is key.
- Love is the first fruit of the recreated born again human spirit.
Galatians 5:22–23 (AMP) — 22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
The Word of God Develops the Love of God within You
- There is no spiritual growth without growing in love.
- The Word of God feeds your spirit the way food feeds your body.
Matthew 4:4 (AMP) — 4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
2 Peter 1:4 (AMP) — 4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
- God is love.
- You partake of love’s nature via the exceeding great and precious promises of His Word.
- God’s Word develops God’s love in you.
- Meditate on His words until the love of God dominates all you do.
- Think on ‘love scriptures’ until your spirit becomes full, and your mind renewed.
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