BE LOVE

"God always has a way to BE LOVE."

THE OLD COVENANT has been fulfilled. The reason for its do’s and don’ts is seen in one commandment – to love one another (John 13:34). When we love people, we won’t do things to harm them. We won’t put ourselves in front as more important than they are. We won’t focus on what they’ve done wrong.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 BSB)

The description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is how God is.

Verses 1-3 are a picture of Jesus. He said, “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart … (Mark 11:23).” And in 1 Corinthians 13:2, we read, “And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.” The love Jesus had for us is why we trust God. His love draws all men to Him (John 12:32). His love is why we minister in His name. Is why He gave His body to be burned (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Jesus wanted us to see the Father, that He is patient and kind. He is not easily provoked. He does not seek His own. He does not rejoice in iniquity but bears and believes and hopes and endures all things. His love never fails.

“At this, Philip said to him, Lord, let us see the Father; that is all we ask. What Philip, Jesus said to him, here am I, who have been all this while in your company; hast thou not learned to recognize me yet? Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father.” (John 14:8-9, Knox)

The Old Covenant was written TO BE fulfilled. Because that’s who the Father is, His Word never fails (Isaiah 55:11). He is Truth (John 14:6). When Jesus rose from the dead, He released the Spirit of God on the earth. The Holy Spirit is no longer confined to a box in the temple that only the High Priest can approach. He is everywhere, working to reveal Jesus in men’s hearts. For the Jews, God is among them as people, as family. All New Covenant principles can be found in the Torah, in the poetry books, and in the prophets.

Under Old Covenant, God is GOOD (Psalm 119:68). He is everlasting MERCY and unending LOVE. He is FORGIVENESS as deep as the ocean, as wide as the horizon. In their Law, He is HEALER. He is MIRACLES. He is SACRIFICE and the LAMB OF GOD. We, Gentiles, meaning non-Jews, are grafted into their foundation. Jesus said we are now one flock, united (John 10:16). But this means our love for one another must be His love for us.

Whether who we speak to is Jewish or Christian, we refuse to look, sound, or act like criticism. NO ONE NEEDS TO PREACH “TURN OR BURN.” Ever. That is not the meaning of the words of the apostle Jude. We don’t lambast people over how they eat, over doctrine we disagree with, nor even sinful lifestyles.

God always has a way to BE LOVE.

He came to heal the soul, to make our heart new and resurrect our physical bodies, regardless of gender, race, culture, or depth of sin. God ignores no one.

When we find ourselves consumed with anger, we need to pray. We must choose to spend time in worship, time in His Presence, and being frank, where criticism is concerned, shut up. We should assume we’re wrong, in our emotions, in our thinking, and we need to grow up. Rather than making excuses. Pointing fingers.

His love seen in our words and actions displays the goodness of a generous Father, who sent His Son to die for WHOSOEVER. Jesus prayed, “Father, you always do what is right (John 17:25, EasyEnglish).” In another place, He said the Father had made Him Judge (John 5:22). Jesus’ judgment for us was mercy. When we deserved the consequences of our sins, He erased them. He abolished death (2 Timothy 1:10) and poured out His goodness so that our every need is provided for. It is His love we want to tell everyone about.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Photo by Alexandru Acea on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com