In the book of 1 John we read the short but profound statement that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). John goes on to explain that “in this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
While the phrase God is love isn’t found in the Old Testament, from the books of Genesis to Malachi, God is portrayed as the One who faithfully and eternally loves. Throughout the Old Testament, we read of God’s steadfast love “enduring to a thousand generations” and “from everlasting to everlasting” (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 103:17).
In the New Testament, Jesus is portrayed as being God’s love for humanity manifested on earth. He instructed those who believe in Him to follow His teachings so that we will abide in His love and reflect that love to others (John 15:9–10). In order to help us walk in His love, He sent the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and bring all things that He taught to our remembrance (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is manifested in love, goodness and kindness toward others (Galatians 5:22).
There are four words in the New Testament that are translated into English as love, which have different meanings in the original Greek. The most commonly used word for love in the New Testament is agape. As used in Scripture, it means the love of God. For example, in 1 John 4:8 when it says God is love, agape is the original Greek word. Everything God does is motivated by and flows from His love.
Agape also refers to the love we have for God and our neighbor, as in the two greatest commandments (Mark 12:30-31), and the Christlike love we are to show others. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). This is the love that Jesus displayed throughout His earth life and that motivated Him to lay down His life for us so that we could live with Him forever.
As Christians, we are called to imitate the sacrificial love that Jesus exemplified, as Paul wrote: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1–2). When we read the Gospels and Epistles, in every chapter we see this agape love that chooses to put the needs of others before self, that accepts being inconvenienced, and voluntarily sacrifices for the benefit of someone else. It is a love that shows kindness, goodwill and commitment to the well-being of others, while not expecting to receive anything in return.
In the King James Version of the Bible, agape is often translated as “charity,” which helps us understand that this love is a giving, unselfish love; it is love in action. The call to imitate Jesus’ love is a call to show kindness, compassion and love—not only to those we are close to and comfortable with, but also to those who think, believe, and act in ways we don’t agree with. After all, Jesus told us to love even our enemies and those who wrong or mistreat us.
The apostle Paul defined what love is and does and how it is manifested in 1 Corinthians 13, which has been referred to as the “love chapter.” He wrote: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7).
Other versions of the Bible use different wording for this passage, which can help deepen our understanding of its message. For example, one version tells us that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV). Another version teaches us that love “does not demand its own way… 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 13:5–7 NLT).
This challenging list is a good touchstone for us as we seek to walk in the love of Christ and embody His love, compassion and kindness to others through our lives, our words and our actions. Jesus gave some examples of how to demonstrate this love in our daily lives. He said, “Give to everyone who asks of you. … Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them” (Luke 6:30–31 HCSB). He then went on to say: “Do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. … Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:35–38).
The First Epistle of John expresses the importance of putting love into action in our everyday lives as follows: “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action” (1 John 3:18 GNT). In his epistle, James gives us some concrete examples of putting our faith in action that reflects Christ’s love: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15-18 NIV).
Manifesting the love of Christ in our everyday lives, actions and interactions with others is vital to living a life that reflects Jesus to others and will draw people to Him. Making the decision to develop Christian character, to put off the old self and put on the new self, as the apostle Paul wrote, is also an expression of love (Ephesians 4:20–24). Christian virtues, such as love, compassion, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and patience, are all rooted in the love of Christ which compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV).
We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and based on His love, we strive to be more like Him, to reflect Him and His love to others—even if that reflection is only a dim glow of who He fully is. But as dim as that glow may seem, our kind words and actions performed in His love shine in this world of darkness and give glory to the one who created, loves, and saved us, and with whom we will spend eternity (Matthew 5:16). May we each grow in Christlikeness so we can better reflect God’s love and kindness to every person our lives touch.