Consider for a moment what is taught about love in the greatest book ever written: the Bible.
Most people realize that we should have love in our families. But did you know that loving our children means we must punish and even spank them when necessary? See Proverbs 13:24. For a man to love his wife means he must provide for her needs and treat her kindly just like he does his own body. See Ephesians 5:28,29. If a woman loves her husband, she must submit to him as head of the family. See Titus 2:4,5. Does this love exist in your family?
Again, most people know that we should love God. In fact, loving God is the greatest commandment of all (Matthew 22:37-39). But did you know that loving God requires you to obey Him? See John 14:15. And then did you know that in order to love God you must hate evil? Many people think Christians should never hate anything. They never rebuke the sins and immoralities of society. But Psalm 97:10 says: “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.” God hates evil, and if we love Him, we too must hate evil.
Finally, there is another group of people the Bible says we should love, and this one is really difficult. In Luke 6:27 Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” How is this possible? He continues by explaining: “…do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
Love, according to the Bible, means we must be concerned about others enough to do good for them. One who understands this will not only love his family and his Creator, but he will also love even his enemies.
Do you have love like the Bible describes?
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2019; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.