The love of God is the most amazing and powerful love that exists. It is the love that created the universe and everything in it. It is the love that sustains and guides all of creation. It is the love that sent Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, to die on the cross for our sins and to rise again to give us eternal life. It is the love that offers us forgiveness, grace, mercy, peace, joy, and hope. It is the love that never fails, never gives up, never runs out on us.
Human love, on the other hand, is often limited and imperfect. It is influenced by our emotions, feelings, desires, expectations, and circumstances. It can change, fade, or end. It can be selfish, conditional, or manipulative. It can be hurtful, disappointing, or abusive. It can be influenced by sin, fear, pride, or envy.
The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:81). This means that love is not just something that God does, but something that God is. His love is part of His nature and character. He loves us because He is love, not because we are lovable. He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:32) that does not depend on our performance, behavior, or response.
He loves us with a sacrificial love (Romans 5:83) that gave up His most precious gift, His Son, for our sake. He loves us with a transforming love (2 Corinthians 5:174) that makes us new creations in Christ. He loves us with a faithful love (Lamentations 3:22-23) that never changes or ends.
The Bible also tells us that we are to love God and love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). This means that we are to reflect God’s love in our lives and relationships. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as we want to be loved. We are to love others with a selfless love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) that puts their needs above our own.
We are to love others with a forgiving love (Ephesians 4:32) that does not hold grudges or seek revenge. We are to love others with a humble love (Philippians 2:3-4) that does not boast or look down on others. We are to love others with a pure love (1 Peter 1:22) that does not lust or defile.
However, we cannot love God or others on our own. We need God’s help and grace to love as He loves. We need to receive His love first, and then share it with others. We need to abide in His love, and let His love abide in us. We need to pray for His love to fill our hearts and overflow to others. We need to follow His example and commands to love. We need to grow in His love and let His love grow in us.
My prayer for you today is that this helps you understand the difference between God’s love and human love.
Scriptural Reading:1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John1:12; Romans: 3:23; 6:23; Hebrews: 9:27; Romans: 5:8; Ephesians 2:8,9; Revelations 3:21; 1 John 5:11,12; Romans 3:10