Written By Lesallan – June 28, 2023
This is a very deep question I have asked myself; Why can people not love as the Bible tells us? The Bible gives us a clear definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, where it says that love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. The Bible also shows us the ultimate example of love in God Himself, who is love and who demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). God offers us His love through salvation, which is His free gift to anyone who will accept it by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12).
I think people find it hard to love as the Bible tells us to because we are fallen and flawed by nature. We have inherited a sinful nature from Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God and brought sin and death into the world (Romans 5:12; Genesis 3). We often act out of self-interest and do not want to put others before ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4; James 4:1-3). We also deal with pride, anger, bitterness, envy, and other feelings that prevent love (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:31-32). We need God’s grace and power to overcome these barriers and to love others as He loves us (Romans 8:37-39; 1 John 4:7-12).
Here are some of the people who showed biblical love in both the Old and New Testaments:
• Boaz loved Ruth by being gracious, generous, and protective of her. He redeemed her from her destitute situation and married her, becoming an ancestor of King David.
• David and Jonathan loved each other as friends with a covenant loyalty that was stronger than family bonds. They supported, encouraged, and protected each other even when Jonathan’s father, King Saul, wanted to kill David.
• Solomon and the Shulamite loved each other with a passionate and pure love that honored their marriage. They praised, admired, and delighted in each other in their poetic songs.
• Hosea loved Gomer by being faithful, forgiving, and restoring her after she was unfaithful to him and became a prostitute. He illustrated God’s love for Israel despite their idolatry and rebellion.
• Paul loved Timothy by being his spiritual father, mentor, and partner in the gospel. He taught, encouraged, corrected, and prayed for him as his beloved son.
• John loved the church by being their elder, teacher, and witness of Jesus. He wrote to them with affection, truth, and authority as his dear children.
• Abraham loved Isaac by being obedient to God and willing to sacrifice his son. He trusted God’s promise and received him back as a symbol of resurrection.
• Rahab loved the spies by being courageous and hospitable to them. She hid them from the enemy and helped them escape. She became part of God’s people and an ancestor of Jesus.
• Mary loved Jesus by being humble and faithful to God. She accepted God’s will to be the mother of the Savior. She followed Jesus throughout his ministry, even to the cross.
• Peter loved Jesus by being repentant and restored after he denied him. He affirmed his love for Jesus three times and received his commission to feed his sheep.
Above all, Jesus loved us by being our Savior, Lord, and Friend. He died for our sins, rose from the dead, and sent us the Holy Spirit. He commands us to love one another as He has loved us.
These are some of the people who loved as the Bible tells us to. There are many more examples in God’s Word that we can learn from and follow.
The Bible commands us to spread the gospel and teach others to obey Jesus in every ethnic group of the world. Making disciples of all nations requires selflessness and dedication, but if we prioritize God’s kingdom, he will take care of us as we do his work. Let us go, baptize, and teach to make disciples of all people, groups, and ethnicities on Earth.
Written By Lesallan – June 28, 2023
