Characteristics of Love II
Last week we discussed how “actions speak louder than words” and Christ wants us to love others. We learned that Christ made the commandement in Leviticus broader and with more purpose. This week, I want to dive into part of the characteristics of what love is defined. Christ understood that actions spoke louder than words and it is why He describes love as an identifiable characteristic of those who are His disciples John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” If we love and it points back to Jesus then there must be a characteristic found in love that will point to Him. The world today has many ideas of what love is and what love is not. But let us examine scripture and see what love is.
Christ actions declare His love, Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love” We can see from verses 3-4 that God puts love into action.
He blesses us and gives to us, “who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”
He spent the time to know us, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”
He gave His life for our salvation “that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”
All of this was done “in love” all of this was action being brought together to paint a picture of what love is.
In Christ we see the ultimate picture of love, but let us not forget that the Trinity in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bring to light love on a grand scale. This propels the believer to want to do what Jesus commanded us to and love one another. This is why Paul in Ephesians 1 states he knew the audience of the Ephesians letter were believers because of their love for one another! Ephesians 1:15 “For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,” Our actions will dictate who we belong to. How ironic that the Lord declares love identifies the person as being His. This is why the world is doing everything in its power to alter, destroy, twist, pervert, and minimize what love truly is. Next week we will discuss a systematic listing of what love is and how to address those who would claim it is something else.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
Jl