“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”
—Hosea 12:6
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
—John 3:16-17
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
—1 Corinthians 18-20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
—Jude 1:20-21
Loving the parts of the body that are not identical to ourselves is the visible indication of loving God. The oneness of the body is the tangible demonstration to the world of the love of God.
The English phrase, "the love of God", can mean "the love extended from God" as well as "the love expressed toward God". Those meanings are not contradictory; instead, they are parts of one whole. Jesus told His disciples that people will know who His disciples are by their love. It shouldn't be hard to understand what it means to refuse to love.
Micah called for the Lord's people to “do justice...love kindness...walk humbly”. Zechariah had called for truth and judgements “that are true and make for peace”, then delivered the Lord's commands against deceptive oaths and evil intent toward others.
John records three times the command of Jesus for His disciples to love one another. Paul and Peter repeated it in their letters. John reiterated it six times in two of his short letters. And all of them make clear that this is not simply some pale sentiment. It is a vital, active, challenging love that does whatever is needed.
Like the circulatory system that carries the blood of life—to all parts of the body.
So Loved
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope
—Psalm 130:5
“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”
—Hosea 12:6
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
—John 3:16-17
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
—1 Corinthians 18-20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
—Jude 1:20-21
Loving the parts of the body that are not identical to ourselves is the visible indication of loving God. The oneness of the body is the tangible demonstration to the world of the love of God.
The English phrase, "the love of God", can mean "the love extended from God" as well as "the love expressed toward God". Those meanings are not contradictory; instead, they are parts of one whole. Jesus told His disciples that people will know who His disciples are by their love. It shouldn't be hard to understand what it means to refuse to love.
Micah called for the Lord's people to “do justice...love kindness...walk humbly”. Zechariah had called for truth and judgements “that are true and make for peace”, then delivered the Lord's commands against deceptive oaths and evil intent toward others.
John records three times the command of Jesus for His disciples to love one another. Paul and Peter repeated it in their letters. John reiterated it six times in two of his short letters. And all of them make clear that this is not simply some pale sentiment. It is a vital, active, challenging love that does whatever is needed.
Like the circulatory system that carries the blood of life—to all parts of the body.