Sunday, January 29, 2017

What Does Love Look Like?

 
What does love look like?  I often think of this passage used in the bible as a good description of love.

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

God has left us a love letter scattered in the verses of the bible. 
God first loved us:
We love him(God) because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

We are called his children:

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children....1 John 3:1
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  1 John 4:7 
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16

He protects us:

The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name." Psalm 91:14

He knows us intimately:

And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:30-31
Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them." John 14:23
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hand. Isaiah 49:16

Love and romance and is a gift from God (and He created it), which is the book Song of Songs.  Just a few of the quotes:
I am my lover's, and my lover is mine. Song of Songs 6:3
You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. Song of Songs 4:7
Song of Songs is so romantic and a great book to reread at this time of the year.
If you want to dive deeper into the Song of Songs: 
here is a great overview of it at: The Bible Project
I highly recommend this You Tube channel to preview each book of the bible before you start to read it.  I used it last year when I read through the whole bible and it helped me understand the bible much better.

He died for us he loves us so:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13 
But God demonstrates his his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Nothing can separate us from this love:
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing at all creation will able to ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35,37,39

One more quote and then I will save one for next week:
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3

Sherry
I will be linking up with these parties:
Mommy Moments at Life of Faith- Sun evening
Moments of Hope at Lori Schumaker
Monday's Musings at What Joy is Mine
Coffee and Conversation at Pat and Candy.com
Tell Us His Story at Jennifer Dukes Lee
Grace Moments at Journeys in Grace
Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3-D Lessons for Life
Grace and Truth at Above the Waves
Fresh Market Friday Crystal Twaddell
TGI Saturdays at Ask Latisha

The Art of Homemaking Mondays at Strangers and Pilgrims
The Homemaking Party at Classical Homemaking

7 comments:

living from glory to glory said...

Hello, I am always amazed at how much the world can miss on the truths of how much God loves us! And yet the world has such a cheap imitation of love...
His love is what keeps me going year after year!
Good post!...
Hugs, Roxy

While I Linger said...

We have no better example than the love of God toward us, disobedient sinners, in how we should treat others-even when they revile us and call us all sorts of names. They do it because they do not know God or his love and we were once the same way. Thank you for the reminder of how we are supposed to love. Praising God for your faithfulness.

Amy said...

These verses are all helpful when we lose our way and wonder if God really loves us. He shows us in so many ways! Thank you for the list! God is so good to us!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

This is a beautiful post, Sherry. The word of God is His love letter to us and we should read it every day. Just as Roxy said, His love keeps me going. As hard as my life can be at times, due to poor health, I know He loves me and is watching over me. Knowing that helps me focus on what is important and to count my blessings every day. There is always a reason to give thanks and wear a smile. Have a beautiful day, my friend.

Blessings,
Sandi

Deborah Montgomery said...

Yes, this is what love is. Not as the world gives . . .

Anne's Attic - Design said...

So very beautiful!

M.Christine Duncan said...

These are the perfect reminders of how loved we are for this whole month... an endless love letter from Him straight to our hearts! Glad to be neighbours over at #FreshMarketFriday!