"THE LOVE OF GOD "

The love of God is complete, unconditional, unlimited, unfailing and everlasting. Jesus is God in the flesh.

 He loved us so much, He died on the Cross in our place. He paid a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay. John 15:13; "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

It wasn't nails that held Jesus on the Cross,  it was love. John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." His nature and character is love.

 Jesus has commanded us to  love one another. 1 John 4:7-8;

7. Beloved,  let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 

 John 13:34; "A new  commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; 13:1-3; 28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 

1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have  not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

This man of God had some powerful challenges in the church. But he realized that without love, no other gift is worth anything. Love is a powerful force.

 It covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8; "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

Without love in your heart,  anything you say or do is in vain. God is more concerned with the heart. 

1 Samuel 16:7; "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

 Love is the most powerful force in the world. Love is not something you say, it's something you do; it is done without expecting anything in return.

 2Corinthians  9:7; "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." Love is the first of the fruits of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22-23; 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." When you have love all other fruits will follow. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 4. 

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." Love gives and shows kindness and generosity. We all must imitate the love of Christ Jesus. 

He loved everyone, no matter who they were or what they had done. His love was the same for everyone and it is still the same today. 

God's love is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

(Hebrews 13:8). When you don't have love, you don't have God. 

              Glory to God!!!

Sybil "Sweetmama" Woodall 

www.CFMFAN.org

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