1 Corinthians 13:13
1 Corinthians 13:13 “Now these three remain – faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1. People say love is a feeling.
2. Love is uncontrollable.
Love is a matter of choice.
Colossians 3:14 “And over all these put on love which binds them together...”
No one can command someone else to love something.
Love is a matter of conduct.
1 John 3:18 “Let us not love with word or tongue but with actions and truth.”
Agape means unconditional love.
#1. Experience God’s love for yourself.
Ephesians 3:17-18 (LB) “I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart, living within you as you trust Him. May your roots go deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand…how long, wide, deep, and high His love really is, and experience this love for yourselves…”
1 John 4:19 “We love because God first loved us.”
#2. Forgive those who’ve hurt you.
Colossians 3:13 “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
To love people today, you must close the door to the past.
#3. Think loving thoughts.
Philippians 2:4-5 (LB ) “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the kind that was shown to us by Jesus Christ.”
Hurt people HURT people.
#4. Begin acting in a loving way.
No, that's called loving by faith.
Luke 6:27-28 “Jesus said: ‘Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’”
Love them.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be patient with each other. Make allowances for each other’s faults because of your love for the Lord.”
Do good.
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
You bless.
You pray for them.
1 Corinthians 13 "Love is patient, love is kind, love is generous…"
You expect the best from them.
1 Corinthians 13:7 (LB) “If you love someone, you will always believe in him and always expect the best of him.”
Anytime you label an individual, you’re setting them in a rut.
Love is contagious; it changes people.
Revelation 2:4-5 “You have left your first love.”
Revelation 2:4-5 “You have left your first love. Remember how far you’ve fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first.”
#1. Remember.
#2. Repent.
#3. Do the things you did at first.
#1. Commit yourself totally to Jesus Christ.
#2. Commit yourself unreservedly to your mate, regardless of faults and flaws.
“By this, all men shall know that you’re My disciples if you have love one for another.”