"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your strength. The second is this, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no greater command than these."
Mark 12:30-31 NIV
Love is certainly a central attribute of God. Jesus in His life, showed much love to so many. Even his act of cleansing the temple was an act of love toward His Father and His Father's house. Jesus in the above 40 words gives clear direction to us, our lives, and our actions.
Paul writes of attributes of love in 1Corinthians 13; patient, kind, long suffering, never proud or boastful, always hopes, always perseveres, never fails. Paul adds that of faith, hope and love, love is the greatest.
Love covers a multitude of sin. Consider Jesus' love for us by suffering on the cross. That perfect love from one man, covered all of humanities sin. Scripture tells us that sin entered the world through one man. It also tells us that one man triumphed over sin.
Love is a great blessing, however it does need to be nurtured. We do need to pay attention and show our love, and Christ's love to others in our midst, for without nurturing love can, and will eventually decline.
Often it has been popularly said the opposite of love is hate. I was told that this is not true, for the opposite of like is hate. I was further instructed that the opposite of love is no love. Love adds intensity to our attachments and relationships. The example provided was the contrast between a family member and one we pass by on the street. The emotions of like and hate are much greater with those we love as a relative in contrast to the like and hate we have with a passer by.
How do you view the differences between like and dislike; love and no love?
Pray to show the Love of Christ to all in your life.
In Christ,
David P
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