Quotes from the gospel of love for one's neighbor. True love
Here are just a few of the most famous passages of Scripture that speak of love:
"...love covers all sins" (Prov. 10:12)
"... and his banner over me is love" (P. Songs 2:4)
"... for love is strong as death; jealousy is fierce, like hell; its arrows are fiery arrows; it is a very strong flame.
Great waters cannot extinguish love, and rivers will not flood it. If anyone gave all the wealth of his house for love, he would be rejected with contempt." (P. Song 8:6-7)
"Most of all, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Pet. 4:8)
"We know love in this, that He laid down His life for us: and we must lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16)
"... because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, because God is love. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because in fear there is torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:7-8,18)
"Love consists in this, that we do according to His commandments" (2 John 6)
"Let love be unfeigned..." (Rom. 12:9)
"Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" Rom. 13:10)
"... love edifies" (1 Cor. 8:1)
“If I speak in human and angelic languages, but do not have love, then I am a ringing brass or a sounding cymbal. If I have love, then I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions and give my body to be burned, and I do not have love, it does not profit me at all. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
“Love is longsuffering, is merciful, love does not envy, love does not boast, does not pride itself, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not irritated, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; it covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything Love never ceases, although prophecy will cease, and tongues will be silent, and knowledge will be abolished. (1 Cor. 13:4-8)
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, love; but love is the greater of them." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love..." (Gal. 5:22)
"Most of all, put on love, which is the bond of perfection" (Col. 3:14)
"Let the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ" (2 Thess. 3:5)
"The end of exhortation is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith" (1 Tim. 1:5)
"...you left your first love" (Rev. 2:4)
"Let everything be with you in love" (1 Cor. 16:14)
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34)
"...constantly love one another with a pure heart" (1 Pet. 1:22)
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19)
“You have heard that it was said: love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, for he commands His sun rises on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, for if you love those who love you, what reward will you have?" (Mat. 43:46)
"...love him with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:33)
"... let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18)
"He who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8
What is love? When we, as humans, think of love, we think of some kind of good and pleasant feeling. However, true love does not depend on feelings. She means a lot more than what I feel for someone. This applies to romantic love, and love for one of the relatives, for a friend or for a colleague - We often give our love or accept it based on what benefit it will bring to ourselves. But, what will I do if loving someone will cost something? What does the Bible say about love?
“Love is long-suffering, merciful, love does not envy, love does not exalt itself, does not pride itself, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. 1. Kor. 13:4-8
When I do this in spite of my feelings, and regardless of what other people do, then I am in love. I don't feel like I'm in love when I'm tempted to anger, to impatience, to seek my own, to believe in everything bad, or to lose faith in someone. When I reject all these feelings and instead rejoice, become long-suffering, humble myself, bear others and endure everything - this is true love. Love sacrifices itself, all its natural reactions, demands that are part of human nature, then I don't expect anything in return.
“There is no greater love than if a man lays down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Love first
“In this is love, that we did not love God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1. John 4:10. It's good when someone loves me and I answer such people mutual love. It is not hard. But this is not proof of love. God loved us before we loved Him, and we did nothing to earn God's love. How do I react if I have been mistreated? Where is my love then? Love gives, gives not only to those who treat us well. But love loves its enemies, it loves first. This love does not disappear, even if it is not reciprocated. This love endures everything.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:44-45
Divine love
“Whoever says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And we have this commandment from Him, that he who loves God love his brother also.” 1. John 4:20-21
Our love for God is no greater than our love for our neighbors. Divine love does not change according to circumstances. She is firm.
We often wish others would change. We find it difficult to love people the way they are, and we want them to change. This is proof that we are more concerned with our own well-being and comfort. We are looking for our own, instead of loving others.
The truth is that instead of hoping that others will change, we must find the sin in ourselves and be cleansed of it. Personal interest and thoughts that "I know better", vanity and stubbornness, etc. - all these sins I find in myself when I deal with other people. When we are free from all this, then we can endure, believe, hope and endure everything for the sake of others. We love those around us as they are, we begin to pray for them with sincere love and care.
With no exceptions
There are no exceptions here. There should not even be a thought that this person did not deserve it. Jesus gave His life for us and this is irrefutable proof of how much He loves us. No one else deserves it less than we do. To love does not mean agreeing with the sins of others or agreeing with everything they do. Love is when we carry others in our hearts, pray for them, believe in them, and wish them the very best, no matter what their feelings say. Then I can love the one for whom I initially felt reluctance. Then I can instruct, give advice, or correct to help others move away from all that can be harmful. But all this only when I am driven by sincere concern for other people.
Everyone I meet should feel drawn to Christ through fellowship with me. Love draws people. Kindness, humility, meekness, patience, understanding. How can I feel attraction if I am emanating: impatience, pride, rudeness, hatred, etc.?
When I feel that I lack this divine love, then I can ask God to show me how I can get it. I must be willing to sacrifice my own will and start thinking about others.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, love; but the love of them is greater." 1. Kor. 13:13
All Scripture is divinely inspired and useful: it helps to teach, rebuke, correct, instruct how to live an honest life.
2 Tim 3:16
In some of the verses I have used a modern translation.
love loved ones
Beloved! If God so loved us, then we must also love one another. No one has ever seen God: if we love each other, then God abides in us, and His perfect love is in us.
1 John 4:11-12
Your attitude towards people determines your true attitude towards God. How can you love someone you can't see if you hate someone you can see?
Love people. Take care of them. Right from today, start with a simple smile and a kind word for those around you. Then, as the Bible promises, love will increase in your heart.
love your enemies
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.
Matthew 5:44
Remember: negativity causes negativity. If we react negatively to some bad things, the fire will only flare up. The only way to extinguish it is to return good for evil. Moreover, not only apparently, but sincerely, from the bottom of my heart.
Think about those who offended you, hurt you, betrayed you. Understand, it is worse for them than for you, because if they hurt others, then they themselves are hurt too. Why be offended by those whose soul is already "on disability"? Ask God for healing and peace for your offenders, and you will see amazing changes!
Trust God
Do not worry about anything, but under any circumstances, whether through prayer, through petition, or through thanksgiving, let your requests become known to God, and the peace that comes from God, which surpasses your understanding, may it guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil.4:6-7
To trust means not to worry. At all. No way. Open before God your requests, needs, desires, and expect answers with faith! They will definitely be!
But if you always worry, doubt, slander yourself and your life negatively - this often blocks God's decisions for you. Trust in God brings deep peace to the heart.
Goodbye
And when you stand and pray, forgive everything that you have against someone, so that your Heavenly Father will forgive you your sins.
Mark 11:25
You can pray even for days, but if unforgiveness lives in your soul, you are cut off from God's mercy, and therefore from His blessings. I repeat once again: your attitude towards people determines the attitude of God towards you!
Do not give up!
Ask and you will be rewarded, seek and you will find. Knock and the door will open for you. Who asks will receive; who seeks will always find; and the door will be opened to him who knocks.
Matthew 7:7,8
Don't give up on your dreams, goals, calling, mission! Do not be ashamed to ask, seek, knock, seek. Such perseverance leads to great results!
Cry from the heart
Call to Me - and I will answer you, show you the great and inaccessible, which you do not know.
Jer.33:3
Sometimes, in order to reach a new level of life, you need to cry out to God with all your heart. scream. scream. What is tired, that there is no strength, that it is no longer possible.
Such sincere "cries of the soul" open the door to the "inaccessible", to something that you did not know before. A new understanding, a revelation, a new turn will come. God promised so, and He never lies.
Define your measure
Give, and it will be given to you; a full measure, so that it will even spill over the edge, it will be poured for you, for with what measure you measure, the same measure will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38
This verse is clear that you determine what you get in life. The way you measure will be measured to you. As you judge something or someone, you will be judged the same way.
You will be greedy - do not expect generosity from others. But if you are a "giver" in life (time, energy, finances) - it is not surprising that even more will return to you!
Study the Bible
Always remember what is written in this book of laws. Study it day and night so that you can fulfill everything that is written in it. By doing so, you will be wise and prosper in all your endeavors.
Joshua 1:8
Studying the Word of God will ensure you success in every area of your life. It is from the Bible that true wisdom comes, the understanding of how things really work.
Do you want to be wise, efficient, happy? Right from today, start reading the Bible, at least a verse a day, and meditate on what you read. Your thinking will begin to change, and accordingly, the quality of life.
Seek comfort in God
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will fulfill the desire of your heart.
Ps.37:4
When it's bad, it hurts, it's not good - run to God. If you run to people, alcohol, drugs and other doping, you will get a temporary effect that will not affect reality in any way.
But if you turn to God, this guarantees not only deep consolation, but also the fulfillment of your innermost desires! This is how the Lord appreciates your fellowship with Him!
Problems will run away
So submit to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7-10
The devil exists. Curses exist. And many problems in life (diseases, failures, pain, disorder) are precisely his work. And therefore, the devil sometimes needs to be driven away, otherwise he is such an impudent guest.
How to do it? First of all, submit to (obey) God and His plan for you, His commandments, His word. The devil hates such people, but he cannot approach them either!
Everything will apply! :)
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
One of my favorite poems and principles in life. When we seek God, everything we need is included!
What does it mean to seek God? It means to strive to where He is (church, sermons, songs, books, etc.), study His character, long for His presence and put Him on the pedestal of your life.
Give the Lord time, strength, show reverence and respect. Love Him. And then - everything will be fine! The necessary will itself float into your hands, as if with the tide. The right doors will open for you, you will always be at the right time in the right places. Such a GPS of fate will turn on :)
I believe that these Bible verses are helping you realize something important right now. May your life change and God's love fill your heart!
The word "love" today can be understood in different ways.
For example:
- love to motherland
- love for pet
- love for mom
- love for wife or husband, child
We say “love”, and sometimes by this we mean a different attitude towards someone or something.
And what is true love?
If you ask a person, then depending on his views, age, age, we will get many options, but on what opinion should we stop to say - “now I know”?
We can spend enough time discussing these questions. I suggest you ask God.
Let's turn to Holy Scripture, to the letter to the Corinthians:
4 Love is long-suffering, merciful, love does not envy, love does not exalt itself, does not pride itself,
5 does not act disorderly, does not seek his own, is not irritated, does not think evil,
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ceases, although prophecy will cease, and tongues will be silent, and knowledge will be abolished.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
In this passage we are given the characteristics of "Love". It can be safely noted that love is not just feelings, but actions are actions.
The Son of God came into this world to show us True Love. Jesus gave us a personal example of how true love works.
You can safely replace the word "love" with the name "Jesus" in the passage (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Try to re-read what happened?
Personally, I myself have never looked at these lines as if in a mirror, until a certain moment ...
Let's now put our name in the passage and read it again.
I confess to you that when I read about myself, I understand that there is something to strive for.
Jesus showed us love and He wants it to live in you and me.
Not just existed, but acted as it is written in verses 4 to 8.
9 The love of God for us was revealed in the fact that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might receive life through Him.
10 In this is love, that we did not love God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(1 John 4:9,10)15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he is in God.
16 And we have come to know the love that God has for us, and have believed in it. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
(1 John 4:15,16)8 But God proves his love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
(Rom.5:8)
The topic of the relationship between a man and a woman in Christianity is as old as the world, and, in the literal sense of these words: after all, according to the Bible, just a few days after the creation of the world, God created people of different sexes, commanding them to be fruitful, multiply and populate the earth. Many readers are surprised that at this solemn moment the Creator does not say a word about love, focusing precisely on procreation. But, if you think about it, this is explained very simply: at the time of creation, there was no sin yet, and, consequently, there were no negative feelings: God's love permeated everything, and this love, according to the Bible, was transmitted to everyone, including, and man. In other words, Adam and Eve simply could not help but love each other - it was so natural that it did not even require clarification.
However, the Holy Bible does not stop talking about love even after the fall of the first people: throughout the Old Testament, we meet many couples who were able to achieve the highest manifestation of this feeling.
What is love according to the book of the Bible?
Before reading what the Bible says about love, it is worth understanding exactly what feelings are meant by this word. Surprisingly, love Holy Scripture not much different from our feelings today: in the Bible you can find self-sacrificing love (Zechariah and Elizabeth), vicious and sinful (David and Bathsheba), passionate (Song of Songs), chaste (Joseph and Mary), insidious (Samson and Delilah). There are so many examples that it is very difficult to determine for yourself the signs of true love, according to the book of the Bible. But the Lord Himself helps us in this: “Let a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and let them be two as one flesh.” In this definition, you can see two components of love: the desire to be together at all costs and carnal attraction. Theologians, interpreting this phrase about love from the Bible for us, focus on connecting spiritual intimacy with physical intimacy: in the absence of the first component, love becomes lust, and if the second is removed, friendship.
The Bible about love: how to keep feelings?
So, according to the Bible, the relationship between a man and a woman is not even just a norm, but the fulfillment of one of the first commandments of God.
It is more or less clear with what the Bible says about love as a feeling. Does it contain the answer to the most main question, exciting people for many millennia: how to maintain your love for each other? It turns out that yes, such a recipe exists, but following it requires effort on the part of both husband and wife. This answer is given to us by the Apostle Paul, who says that true love is merciful, long-suffering, does not envy, does not think evil, does not desire another's, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Real love covers sins, is built on trust, is not irritated and is not proud.
