LOVE – Discovering Love – What is the Width and Depth of LOVE?

“For the WHOLE LAW is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” – apostle Paul (Galatians 5:14, NASB)

“But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

And He [Lord Jesus Christ] said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment.

“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “On these two commandments depend the WHOLE LAW and the PROPHETS.” (Matthew 22:34 – 40, NASB)

God Commanded us to LOVE.

WHY?

Here’s one Great Reason:

‘LOVE covers our sins’

Verses about LOVE and how it ‘covers our sins’? Please consider:

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” – apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:8, NASB)

“let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” – apostle James (James 5:20, NASB)

The Magnificent Verses above prove that LOVE always benefits the “person who loves” by ‘covering his/her sins’ as the actual example Verse below from the Gospels Reveal this Meaning Irrefutably as follows:

“For this reason I say to you, HER SINS, which are MANY, have been FORGIVEN, for she LOVED MUCH; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 7:47, NASB)

Conclusion – A Secret of LOVE

(i) Basic Love = Toward those who love us back (e. g. family + acquaintances from whom ‘we gain something from such relationships, both ways usually’), Verse:

“If you LOVE THOSE who LOVE YOU, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:32, NASB)

(ii) Widest Love (Width) = Toward “Enemies”, Verse:

“But I say to you who hear, LOVE your ENEMIES, do good to those who hate you,” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:27, NASB)

(iii) Deepest Love (Depth) = Toward “Friends”

“GREATER LOVE has NO ONE than this, that one lay down his life for his FRIENDS.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:13, NASB)

Why? The LOVE toward friends is the only love which is ‘not based on human pride’ (not because they’re connected to us in some way) and is ‘truly selfless’ (no reason at the start except Love) —> because it begins toward a ‘stranger -first’ who becomes a ‘friend’.

‘God does the Impossible with His LOVE, AGAPE = the Unfailing & Unending Love of God toward ALL’ – Anonymous

P/S: Want to Love God back?

“If YOU LOVE Me, you will KEEP My COMMANDMENTS.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:15, NASB)

So, our “failure” to keep (or ‘obey’) “His COMMANDS” = “Commands of the Lord” (e. g. as the Verse below reveals) —–> proves ‘how little our love really is toward Him’ —-> but regardless of our ‘little love or unfaithfulness’, He Always Remains Faithful in His PERFECT LOVE toward us, Verses:

“If ANYONE thinks he is a PROPHET or SPIRITUAL, let him RECOGNIZE that the things which I WRITE to you are the LORD’S COMMANDMENT.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:37, NASB)

“If we are faithless, He [Lord Jesus Christ] REMAINS FAITHFUL, for He cannot deny Himself.” – apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:13, NASB)

And that’s Why His LOVE is both UNFAILING and GREATEST, Verses:

“[His] LOVE never fails … But now faith, hope, LOVE, abide these three; but the GREATEST of these is [His] LOVE.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 13:8, 13, NASB)

[Emphasis Mine]

‘Love always benefits the lover regardless’ – Unknown

Peace to you

Here’s the POWER of LOVE which will be REVEALED when HE RETURNS GLORIOUSLY (if we are really able to ‘understand’ the Verse below):

“and the BASE things of the world and the DESPISED God has CHOSEN, the THINGS that are NOT, so that He may NULLIFY the THINGS that ARE,” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 1:28, NASB)

As they say, in the End:

“Love Wins” – Rob Bell

Truly:

“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” – apostle John (1 John 4:8, NASB)

I repeat [for emphasis]: “… for GOD IS LOVE.” (1 John 4:8)