Handful of Promises Bible Study – Love

L-O-V-E is a Four-Letter Word

L-O-V-E…that four-letter word that we all crave. We seek it earnestly, we look for it (sometimes in all the wrong places), and we dream about it in our slumber. We love our spouses, we love our children, and we love our extended families. There is love in our hearts for our friends, our church family, and even for the complete stranger.

But what do we really know about love? Have we truly investigated love to its greatest depths and highest heights? Do we honestly grasp the enormity of the truest of loves…the love the Father has for us, His children?

Do we have any concept of a love so great that He would sacrifice his son in a merciless, excruciating death, simply out of love for mankind and the desire for us to receive His grace? Is it even possible for us, in our human form, to love the way He loves us?

It is my belief that we will never really understand the all-encompassing love our Father has for us, at least not on this side of eternity. But we can live our lives in awe and honor of that love. We can utilize the days we are given to share our bits and pieces with those around us. It is the greatest commandment that we are given from God…to love.

Our first commandment is to love Him

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)

When you think about this verse, are you living up to its command? Are you 100% in love with God?

Does your heart cry out for Him?

Is your mind stayed on Him?

In what ways do you struggle in keeping God a priority in your life?

Are you keeping His commandments?

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Now, that’s a tough one! While it may be easy to keep some commandments, such as not killing, stealing, or committing adultery, what about the way we treat others?

What about coveting? Do you fix your mind on what others have instead of what God has for you?

What about lying? Do those “little white lies” catch up with you sometimes?

Do you treat your parents with honor and respect?

Do you strive to help a neighbor in need?

Do you obey the commandment to love one another?

“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” (John 13:34)

That is a tall order! Note the words “just as I have loved you”. This means we aren’t supposed to offer up some type of half-hearted “love” towards fellow man. We are called to love others in the same capacity as God loves us. That means wholeheartedly, full of compassion, overflowing with grace, and without conditions.

Are you capable of that?

Do you feel you have ever received that kind of love?

Do you feel you are capable of unconditional love?

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Because Jesus loves us so much, because of his love so deep that his own life was given for ours, and because we are created in his image, we ARE capable of unconditional love. It is often said that children learn what they live. The same holds true for us. When we live a life filled with the love of Jesus, we learn to love in that capacity. We learn about sacrificial love. We discover what it means to be totally invested with our hearts and souls. It is that kind of love that we are to pass on to others. It is that level of investment that we should be making in fellow man.

Is it easy for you to love others or do you struggle with loving those outside your box, or those that draw you out of your comfort zone?

Do you find yourself being judgmental towards others, especially those who are different from you?

These are some excellent scriptures on love and some purposeful questions to ask ourselves in order to determine where our hearts are. Are we living like Jesus? Are we even close?

Perhaps the greatest scripture on love is to be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
“Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrong doings but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, love endures all things,

How is your patience these days?

How often do you find yourself being arrogant or rude to those around you?

Do you get resentful when others are blessed?

Do you chuckle inside when someone else gets caught doing something wrong?

Do you celebrate the achievements of others and join them in their victories?

Do you love TO the trials or THROUGH the trials?

Ladies, do you have the PROMISE of love in your life?