Love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. —1 John 4:7
Just as the absence of love creates a multitude of problems, so the presence of love in a church (or a home, workplace, or nation) can solve almost every problem you can think of. The presence of agape love, God’s love, is committed to the best interests of the other person and doesn’t expect anything in return.
Throughout 1 Corinthians, we see people who promoted their own interests. What they really cared about was how decisions would impact their lives and what would make them happy.
In that same book, however, we also find the apostle Paul’s description of different expressions of love and what a difference that makes in a community of believers. Because only true Christians can have true love.
Love is a God quality. It’s something we don’t have naturally, and we can’t manufacture it. So, if you’re not a Christian, you cannot really love other people in the way that God has commanded us to love. God is love, and true love comes from Him.
Make it Personal
What difference have you seen in your church (or family or community) when people show true agape love to one another?