God is All-Loving

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 3: 16-17

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

The scripture that leads up to 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 is crucial to understanding how God is all-loving. In the previous chapter, Paul says that all the spiritual gifts should be desired, but what is even greater than the gifts is the way of love. You may have everything, but if you don’t have love, you have nothing. John, a disciple of Jesus, says in 1 John 4: 8 that God is love. The Greek word used for love in this context is “agape.” Agape love is the greatest conceivable love there is. Agape is not romantic love, feelings, or the spiritual love of true friendship. Agape love alone is fullness and alone is enough to fill the hole in our heart that is bigger than the galaxies.

Reflection

1. Paul defines agape love by giving us 15 identifiable attributes of it. Where else in the scriptures do you see God’s love played out?
2. Does anything about 1 John 3: 17 convict you?
3. God’s very character is defined as love. How should this new knowledge affect your daily life?

Take the Next Step

Love never fails. God loves everyone so much that he came to die for us all while we were still sinners, and he calls us to be in a loving relationship with him. Satan can feed us lies that we are unlovable and that God “spilled the paint” when he uniquely made us (Psalm 139:13). God shows his agape love to me through his grace that I never begin to deserve. We all make mistakes- your friends, parents… everyone! Jesus gives us an example how to love others and extend grace to them. If we were all sinless, it would make it that much harder to go to Jesus.