“What the world needs now is love sweet love.

  It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”

“All you need is love. All you need is love.

 All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.”

At one time, these were two very popular songs, but since the world began people have cried out for love. The only problem is we are looking in the wrong place. There is only one who can fulfill our need for love…….and that being is God.

 

1 John 4:8 tells us that “GOD IS LOVE.”  You cannot get more explicit than that.

As we seek God, we will discover what true love is.

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abide faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” Why does it say that? Because love is who God is. To attempt to love without God is futile. It is impossible without a relationship with Him and an awareness that, as believers, God lives in us and we live in Him, (1 John 14:16, 17, 20). Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

 

As we come to the realization that it is no longer I who lives, but Christ living in me, we are able to love like God loves. The reason we are able to love is because His love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives. (Rom. 5:5)

 

How do we tap into the ability to love the way God does? We become more proficient at it as we meditate on who God really is and that He has made us in His image and likeness. The more we identify with Him, the more others see God in us.

 

Since God is love, we can substitute the word

love for God throughout the scriptures.

Take 1 Corinthians 13 for example. It starts out by saying if we speak in tongues, have the gift of prophecy, do good things or become a martyr and do it without love (God), it is nothing and in vain. That is a pretty shocking statement, because even Christians attempt to do things without the Lord. He wants us to be dependent on Him for everything. There are many noble groups and people doing commendable deeds for others, but if they do it without the Lord, it is nothing. In Him we are to live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)  As believers, we exist in love and love exists in us. (1 John 4:16)

 

God is everything the Bible states that love is. He is patient, kind, not rude or selfish, not proud or irritable. God is happy with the truth, always hopes, always believes and never gives up. He is a giver and gave the ultimate gift when He sent His Son to die for us.

 

To express in words the love God has for us is a difficult undertaking. The more you experience the Lord, the more you will understand His love, because He is love. As you receive your weekly confessions, take the time to think about who He really is. I am sure your relationship with Him will truly be enriched as a result.

 

Below I put together a number of different translations of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to help see who God really is. I hope it is helpful.

 

God is patient and kind, unselfish and compassionate.

He cares more for others than He does for Himself.

He is not offended, irritable or touchy.

He is undemanding, even-tempered and personable.

He never forces Himself on others. He is not conceited, arrogant or proud.

He pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

He rejoices when right and truth prevail.

God bears up under anything and everything that comes.

He is ever ready to believe the best of every person.

His hopes are fade-less under all circumstances.

He endures all things without weakening.

God never fails, fades out, becomes obsolete or comes to an end.