I scan the list and blink away the sudden wetness pressing against my lids. Something close to bitterness rises fresh in my heart and I know I am in danger of failing. Failing at love. Failing at forgiveness. Failing at selflessness. Family gatherings do that. They bring out the child in me. The buried parts of the hurting girl who Christ set free and healed from so much pain.  Still, I struggle. I struggle with not being important enough. Now, the pain sinks deeper. Further. Faster. Because this list is about more than me. It’s about acceptance. Inclusion. Belonging.

Lord, help me forgive. Teach me to choose love and let the feelings follow.

Desperate for direction, I Google Bible verses about loving others.

What the Bible Says About Love

1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV) exhorts, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. …for God is love.” The Greek text of this verse consists solely of derivations of the word, agape.

This type of love exceeds all others. Sacrificial, unconditional, and volitional. It exists outside of emotion, relationship, or personal bond.

1. Love defines God’s character.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! (Psalm 36:7)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (1 John 4:16)

2. God is our source of love for others.

         …everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”                               (John 13:34-35)

3. God’s love is powerful.

• But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
• …neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
• There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

As I read through the verses above, I notice keywords and phrases such as poured out. Lavished. Everyone will know. Living faith out loud requires more than attending church or praying before a meal at a restaurant. Faith is a lifestyle of love lived in the hard moments. Agape. Not when it’s easy. Not with those who agree with me, like me, or even love me well.

Love means living like Jesus. Love is setting aside the idol of self and inviting the feelings to follow.

Peace and grace,
Tammy

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