The Greatest Virtue
He who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16
The greatest virtue of the Christian life is love. The New Testament proclaims agape love as the supreme virtue under which all others must line up. It centers on the needs and welfare of the one loved and pays the price necessary to meet those needs and foster that welfare.
Jesus clearly stated that the Bible’s two greatest commandments are: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mat 22:37-39).
Is this greatest of all scriptural virtues in your life?
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 207). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Christ commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them and this is how others would recognize them as His disciples (John 13:34-35). The greatest commandments both involve love. Those who love in the manner in which we are commanded are obeying God's will. "If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love" (John 15:10). Loving is an integral part of walking with Christ.
Applications: Learn to love properly. Do not love selfishly, but love sacrificially. Love God by serving and obeying Him. Love others by serving them and looking to their interests. Do all these things to please and glorify God, not for any other selfish, sinful motive.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart to love others. Pray for a desire to serve their needs and promote their welfare. Focus on God's glory as the ultimate goal of your actions and not on any self-serving agenda.
Listen to this entry
1 John 4:16
The greatest virtue of the Christian life is love. The New Testament proclaims agape love as the supreme virtue under which all others must line up. It centers on the needs and welfare of the one loved and pays the price necessary to meet those needs and foster that welfare.
Jesus clearly stated that the Bible’s two greatest commandments are: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mat 22:37-39).
Is this greatest of all scriptural virtues in your life?
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 207). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Christ commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them and this is how others would recognize them as His disciples (John 13:34-35). The greatest commandments both involve love. Those who love in the manner in which we are commanded are obeying God's will. "If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love" (John 15:10). Loving is an integral part of walking with Christ.
Applications: Learn to love properly. Do not love selfishly, but love sacrificially. Love God by serving and obeying Him. Love others by serving them and looking to their interests. Do all these things to please and glorify God, not for any other selfish, sinful motive.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart to love others. Pray for a desire to serve their needs and promote their welfare. Focus on God's glory as the ultimate goal of your actions and not on any self-serving agenda.
Listen to this entry
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