God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). The Bible says, “But now faith, hope, [and] love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1Co 13:13 NASB20” KJV translates “agape” as charity (1 Corinthians 13:13). Charity and love are both the act of giving and then expecting or demanding nothing in return.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. – Jhn 15:13 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – Jhn 3:16 KJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. – Jhn 1:1 KJV
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. – Jhn 1:14 KJV

Perfectly Loved

The Choice to Love

Love is an action. It is a characteristic to be chosen when we receive Jesus. He is love! As He is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).

He Defines Love

God is love. God is Agape!

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. – 1Co 13:4 NASB20
It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own [benefit;] it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong [suffered,] – 1Co 13:5 NASB20
it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; – 1Co 13:6 NASB20
it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1Co 13:7 NASB20

Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love covers ALL sins (Proverbs 10:12, 17:9). God came down and manifest Himself in His Son Jesus to sacrifice Himself to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29, Hebrews 9:26)! He did not do this to torment and condemn us but to save us (John 3:17).

Meditate

Paul tells Timothy to be an example of the believers in charity/love (agape). He also tells him to meditate upon these things!

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. – 1Ti 4:12 KJV
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. – 1Ti 4:15 KJV

The Greatest is Love

We can take the definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and realize that this is how God is toward us, His children (John 1:12-13), and all of humanity that He created in His image (Matthew 5:45).

• God is patient with us (2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 1:9).
• He is kind to us (James 1:17-18).
• God does not envy (John 10:10).
• He does not brag (Philippians 2:6-7).
• God is not arrogant (Philippians 2:8-10).
• He does not act disgracefully (John 8:29).
• God does not seek His own benefit (John 3:16).
• He is not easily provoked (Jonah 4:2, 11).
• God thinks no evil (Jeremiah 19:5, 29:11, Psalm 103:12).
• He does not rejoice in iniquity (Genesis 6:5-6).
• God rejoices in the truth (Zephaniah 3:17).
• He bears all things (Luke 18:7, 1 Peter 1:20-21).
• God believes all things (Galatians 5:6, Romans 3:3, 10:17, Philemon 1:6).
• He hopes all things (1 John 3:20-21).
• God endures all things (Psalm 136, Hebrews 12:2).

The patience of Jesus Christ

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. – Rev 1:9 KJV

John is saying that he is our brother and companion in tribulation. He is our brother and companion in the kingdom (present tense). And he is our brother and companion in the patience of Jesus Christ. This goes along with Luke 18:7 which I used with “He bears all things.”

God is not the evil judge in this parable in Luke 18!

See “The Power of His Might” about praying always!

God is bearing the evil in this present world system caused by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is bearing this with us, His children because it is not His will for any to perish.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – 2Pe 3:9 NASB20

Great Expectations

Many people believe that God has these great expectations of humanity. Religion teaches that we have to do things, do works, to earn God’s love. After all, the Bible does tell us to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22-25). When we delight ourselves in the Lord and acknowledge that He is in us (Philemon 1:6, Colossians 1:27), we will want to do everything His Word says to do (Psalm 37).

Jesus tells us that He knows what is in man (John 2:24-25). It is recorded twice in the Bible that when Jesus was teaching His disciples (Matthew 5:1-2, Luke 11:1), He said to them, “If you, being evil…” (Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13).

He did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32).

Agape Love/Charity is the Greatest!

You do not have to be perfect, have it all together, or even be good (Romans 5:6) to begin renewing your mind to the Truth (Romans 12:2)! God is agape (Romans 5:8)! Love and charity. Giving unconditionally with no expectations (Romans 5:7-10).

All of His commandments, precepts, and teachings are for us (3 John 1:2). They are instructions in righteousness so that we can receive fully the abundant life that He came for us to have (2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 10:10). So that we can walk in His will and His ways and fight the enemy (James 4:7, Revelation 12:11).

Now, In This World (1 John 4:17)

He has given us back power, authority, and dominion. We get to choose for ourselves, our family and loved ones, our world! Do you want to stay in the dark (John 3:18-21)? Or do you want to enter into the kingdom of God (Matthew 11:11, 23:13, Luke 18:17)?

Jesus teaches about entering into the kingdom through the narrow way. He is the way, the truth, and the life (Matthew 7:13-14, John 17:3). He teaches this right smack dab in the middle of how to live in this world (Matthew 7). If you are not entering into the kingdom that has already come now in this world, when do you plan on entering in (Mark 9:1, Luke 13:23-28)?

This is the Day

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. – Isa 55:1 KJV
Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. – Isa 55:2 KJV
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David. – Isa 55:3 KJV
Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. – Isa 55:4 KJV
Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. – Isa 55:5 KJV
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: – Isa 55:6 KJV
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. – Isa 55:7 KJV
For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. – Isa 55:8 KJV
For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isa 55:9 KJV
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: – Isa 55:10 KJV
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it. – Isa 55:11 KJV
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands. – Isa 55:12 KJV
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off. – Isa 55:13 KJV