In Romans 15:1-3 (KJV) it says: "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself".

In Galatians 6:2 we are also told to bear each other's burdens as Christ directs us. So, what does God command us to do? He commands us to love one another (Gal 5:14, John 13:34). We put love into practice by bearing one another`s burdens. When we obey this command, we are certainly not pleasing ourselves.

The apostle Paul encouraged us not to seek our own but one another`s well-being (1 Cor 10:24). In the famous love chapter of the New Testament we are told that: “love does not seek its own” (or is not selfish) (1 Cor 13:5). This does not come easily to our flesh but the apostle Matthew exhorted us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus (Matt 16:24). If we do this then we can put others before ourselves. We certainly cannot do this in our own strength but with God’s help we can. Let us learn to: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep” (Rom 12:15).

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"And the Lord make you to increase and abound and in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you" (1 Thess 3:12; KJV).  That verse is requiring a lot of love from us. This love is to be extended to our Christian family (one another) and also people in general (all men). The writer indicates that the Lord will help us do this; we certainly can't do it in our own ability. The love of God: “has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom 5:5). Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). If we desire it and allow it, the Spirit will develop this love in our lives.

We are probably all familiar with the famous love chapter - 1 Corinthians 13, but we also find many characteristics of love in Colossians 3:12-13, where we are told how to behave- with pity, mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, endurance and forgiveness. I believe that all these added together would equal love.

I encourage you to spend time reading and meditating on the love scriptures each day and you will find that increasing and excelling in love will come much easier. Make a decision to grow in your love walk, ask God to help you - and he will.

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The love of God is spread abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). In the Greek this form of love is agape (noun), an unconditional love. Agape was not really used in the Greek until its use in the Bible. Phileo (verb) is the more commonly used Greek word for love and is a brotherly love or affection that is dependent on our ability to love a person because of mutual attraction and feelings.

When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him in chapter 21 of John’s gospel, Jesus used agape but Peter could only reply with phileo. God commands us to agapao (verb; John 13:34). With agape we can love the unlovable by faith. We may not be naturally attracted to some people but we are commanded to agapao them.

Our greatest example of love (agape) is that of the Father for us: “For God so loved (agapao) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; KJV). Christ died for us while we were sinners.

If you want to understand agape then read 1 Corinthians chapter 13, especially verses 4-8a: “Charity (agape*) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is no easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth” (KJV).

This is how God loves us and how we should love him and each other. Don’t get me wrong, we can “phileo” as well, but we must agapao all peoples. Is that wow or double wow? Enough said.

*added for clarity.

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 Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

We hear much about the importance of the word, faith, prayer, praise, the fear of God, obedience, humility, repentance and the need for change in our Christian walk, and so we should. But Gods cardinal commands are to Love him with all our heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39).

Jesus gave us a new command that we love each other as he loves us, by this he said the world would know we are Christians (John 13:34).  In the great love chapter of the Bible (1 Cor 13:1-13) Paul tells us that without love we are nothing. Of faith hope and love the greatest is love Paul says (1Cor 13:13).

The Greek word for love that is used dominantly in the New Testament is agape (noun); God’s unconditional love and the love that we are called to love with. First Corinthians chapter 13 defines this love for us, take time to meditate on it. 

The bible says God’s love is in us, poured in by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) God demonstrated the extent of this love by allowing Christ to die for us (Rom 5:8). We are called to love with our words (Eph 4:15); words that come from our hearts and are spoken in love. But love has to go beyond our words to actions, our deeds (1 John 3:18); love must be demonstrated, just as faith is not faith without corresponding actions (James 2:17). Think how you can share Gods love today; a gentle encouraging word, a kind spontaneous action.

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In Hebrews 6:10 we are told: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister." The apostle Matthew (Matt 25:35-46; KJV) recorded how Jesus expects us to minister to people, whether it be to the sick, the poor or those in prison etc. Jesus finished up by saying that whatever we do we do it unto him. So, when we are showing love or kindness to someone we think we are doing it for that person but we are actually doing it for Jesus.

Jesus gave a similar instruction in Matthew 10:42 (see also Mark 9:37-41), where it says that if we give a cup of cold water to a: "little one", it is as if we are giving it to Jesus. This lines up with the instructions we get in the Bible to: "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark 12:31).

In 1 Corinthians 13:4 the apostle Paul said said that love is kind. In Ephesians 2:10 Paul taught us that we are recreated for good works. In the epistle of the apostle James we are reminded that faith without works is dead (James 2:20) and that true religion is taking care of those less fortunate than ourselves (James 1:27).

This is what love is all about - kindness in action, acting out the love that God has put inside of us (Rom 5:5). Look for ways to show a little kindness today and make someone's day.

                  Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.