It would seem reasonable that the term love is one most used in the language. Listen to young and old alike and you’ll hear their love professed from potato chips, cats, dogs, to of course, family. Many profess love for one another and say they love God. Expressions of love are often made, but real abiding love is very important.
Love declares whose child you are (I John 3:10-11). “In this the children of God are manifest” [love]. “To act, instance of showing, to display or make evident” is to manifest. One’s love for a parent and certainly for God will be declared by the way they act. The love of father and mother is seen in action. Working righteousness is what Peter concluded was the saving declaration of a Christian (Acts 10:34-35). It’s love for one another that declares Christ’s disciples (John 13:35). Cain’s lack of fraternal love was evidenced by his calloused attitude toward Abel (Gen. 4:9). God loved Abel and that’s why He was looking for him. Jesus reinforced the principle by teaching us to love one another. If one loves God, then he/she will look to Him with actions that declare Him.
It has been said that love is better seen than heard (I John 3:10, 12). Love for God and His instruction is put into practice in righteousness (Micah 6:8). It is seen in brethren (I John 4:20), and manifest in care especially for those in need (James 1:27). In fact, it is the purest of love when caring for one who will never be able to repay. That is the love God had for mankind. Love for God is seen not just spoken.
Love sanctifies her followers (I John 3:12-14). It has from the beginning. In marriage and the home, it is love that sets one apart in purity of devotion (Eph. 5:22ff) from everyone else in the world. The basis of love for Christ and His church is the Truth. Followers of God, lovers of God, have always been sanctified from the world, and the world knows the difference (I John 2:19). When sanctified in truth God dwells in us (I John 4:12).
Love rejected is very dark. Hate, murder, death and every evil thing comes from the rejection of love. Love and light, hate and death are the opposite as light and dark, as Jesus and the world (I John 1:5).
It was love that brought true light into the world that lights every man (John 1:9). It was God’s love (John 3:16) that delivered the “unspeakable gift” (II Cor. 9:15), priceless in value, given for you and for me. What’s love got to do with it? It’s love on God’s part that made salvation from sin available, and love on man’s part through Jesus Christ that makes it attainable. Love has all to do with it (I John 3:10-15).
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
