💗 Love Blog Series
In our previous discussion on the Key Principles of Biblical Love, we explored how love is not merely a feeling but a command from God, expressed through obedience, compassion, and selfless action.
True Biblical Love reflects the heart of Jesus, guiding believers to love God and their neighbours – including those who oppose, criticize, or misunderstand them. It is through Christlike love that we demonstrate faith in practical ways, break down barriers, and live out Christian teachings in daily life.
This deeper study continues to show how love shapes our actions, our relationships, and our spiritual walk.
1 Corinthians 13:1–end, 1 John 4:7–12, Romans 13:9–10, and Colossians 3:12–14 teach us that we are known by our love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the greatest in God’s sight is the one who loves their neighbour and fellow man.
Biblical Love: A Measure to True Spirituality
Whoever does not love does not know God. If you do not love, you do not know God, because God is love. In Romans 13, it says that God measures our lives by our love for Him and for our neighbour.
Anyone who does not love their neighbor, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. This is His command: whoever loves God must also love their fellow man. Truly, if you love God, you must also love your fellow man.
You cannot truly love God without loving your neighbor – even those who oppose, criticize, or hurt you. Love transcends religion, race, and background, because Biblical love comes from God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. Romans 13 reminds us that God measures our lives by our love for Him and others. If you claim to love God, it must be evident in how you treat your neighbor.
1 Corinthians 13:1–5 shows that knowledge, ability, and sacrifice mean nothing without Christlike love. True love breaks down barriers, melts prejudices, and helps us understand the hearts of others. Love allows us to listen, empathize, and respond with compassion.
The Key Principles of Biblical Love: Access your Love for God
How do we assess our love for God?
The Degree of your Love for His Word
We do so by the practical things in our lives. One way is by the number of times we lovingly think of Jesus each day. How do we think of Him? Remember, Jesus and His Word are one.
Meditation on His Word is a visit to Him. If you want to visit Him, meditate in His Word. Through meditation, we become one with Him. It is the route, the access, and the way.
The degree of our hunger to read His Word – meaning the time we set aside to study it – reveals the depth of our love. As Romans 13:9–10 teaches, the more we love God, the more precious His Word becomes, because God and His Word are inseparable.
The Key Principles of Biblical Love: The things you have Adjusted
Another way to access your love for God is through the number of things in your life that you have adjusted. Thou shalt not steal – you have stopped stealing because you long to please Him. Thou shalt not lie – you have stopped lying because you long to please Him. Thou shalt not destroy – you have stopped destroying because you long to please Jesus.
How do you use your money because of your love for God? How do you economize so you can give more to others because of your love for Jesus? How do you use your leisure time because of your love for Him?
In what small ways do you bless others because of your love for Jesus? How often do you say, “God bless you,” because of your love for Him? How many people have you said this to today?
Your Willingness to Overlook your Neighbor’s Mistakes
Let us also consider ways to assess our love for our neighbor, as taught in Colossians 3:12–14. By your willingness to overlook the mistakes, failures, weaknesses, and shortcomings of your neighbor, you demonstrate genuine love. This is true love, because there is no perfect person on earth.
By practicing these principles, believers cultivate practical love, reflecting God’s heart in their daily lives through Christian teachings, prayer, compassion, and service.