True love begins with a wholehearted devotion to God, placing Him above every desire, preference, or pursuit in life. This kind of love is not partial or convenient, but calls for every part of who you are—your heart, soul, and mind—to be surrendered to Him. When you love God first, it transforms your priorities and empowers you to lay down anything that stands in the way of His purposes for you. Even when your feelings, beliefs, or wants are challenged by God’s Word, loving Him means choosing His way over your own. This deep, all-encompassing love for God is the foundation for every other kind of love you can offer. [39:52]
Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV)
And he 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 first commandment.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you tend to put your own desires or comfort above God’s will? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?
The ability to love others well flows from the reality that Jesus loved us first, even when we were undeserving, broken, or far from Him. God’s relentless pursuit of humanity, seen throughout the story of Scripture, culminates in Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross. He entered into our mess, endured rejection and suffering, and still chose forgiveness and grace. When you grasp how deeply you are loved by Christ, it changes the way you see and treat others—moving you from self-centeredness to a love that is generous, forgiving, and transformative. [43:16]
1 John 4:19 (ESV)
We love because he first loved us.
Reflection: How does remembering that Jesus loved you at your worst change the way you approach someone who is difficult to love today?
Loving each other in the church is not about being best friends with everyone, but about being devoted, honoring others above yourself, and stepping into the messiness of real relationships. This love is practical and sacrificial: encouraging, forgiving, serving, praying, practicing hospitality, and speaking the truth in love. Sometimes it means having hard conversations or offering support when it’s inconvenient. When you choose to honor and care for others in the body of Christ, you reflect the kind of love that Jesus commands and the world notices. [49:02]
Romans 12:10 (ESV)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Reflection: Who in your church community could use encouragement or support this week, and what is one specific way you can honor or serve them?
Jesus calls His followers to a radical, countercultural love that extends even to those who oppose, mistreat, or hurt us. This is not a natural response, but a supernatural one that mirrors the heart of God—who forgave and loved even as He was rejected and crucified. Loving your enemies means praying for them, seeking their good, and refusing to repay evil with evil. Sometimes it requires setting healthy boundaries, but it always means letting go of bitterness and trusting God for justice. This kind of love is powerful, disarming, and points people to Jesus. [56:28]
Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Reflection: Is there someone who has wronged you or whom you find hard to forgive? Take a moment to pray for them by name, asking God to bless them and soften your heart.
When faced with opposition, injustice, or hurt, the way of Jesus is not to retaliate or harbor resentment, but to actively respond with goodness and love. This strength is not passive or weak, but courageous and intentional—feeding your enemy when they are hungry, blessing those who curse you, and trusting God to handle justice. By overcoming evil with good, you become a living witness to the transforming power of Christ’s love, breaking cycles of bitterness and reflecting God’s heart to the world. [01:01:05]
Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you were tempted to respond to hurt or frustration with anger or withdrawal. What would it look like to actively choose goodness and love in a similar situation this week?
Love is a word that gets thrown around a lot in our culture, but so often it’s misunderstood or reduced to fleeting feelings, comfort, or even just being nice. Yet, the love that God calls us to is something far deeper, more challenging, and ultimately more transformative. At the heart of everything is the truth that God’s love is the foundation for all other love. Before we can love others well, we must first be rooted in the love of God—a love that is complete, unconditional, and unending. This is the love that pursued us even when we were at our worst, the love that sent Jesus to the cross to make a way for us to be restored.
When we talk about loving God, it’s not just a matter of words or feelings, but of putting Him first in every area of our lives. It means allowing His purposes and plans to shape our desires, even when it’s uncomfortable or goes against what we want. This kind of love transforms us from the inside out, freeing us from selfishness and enabling us to love others as Christ first loved us. The story of Scripture is one of God’s relentless pursuit of humanity, a pursuit that culminates in Jesus’ sacrificial love.
Loving each other in the church isn’t about everyone being best friends or always agreeing. It’s about being devoted to one another, honoring each other above ourselves, and stepping into the messiness of real relationships. Sometimes that means encouraging, forgiving, serving, or even speaking the truth in love when it’s hard. True Christian love is not passive or superficial; it’s active, sacrificial, and sometimes uncomfortable. It’s a love that the world notices because it’s so different from what’s expected.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there—He calls us to love not just those who are like us, but also the “other”: those who are different, those who oppose us, even those who have hurt us. This is a radical, countercultural love that can only come from God. It’s not about being a doormat or ignoring boundaries, but about refusing to let bitterness or hatred take root, and choosing to overcome evil with good. When we love like this, we reflect the heart of God and become living witnesses to His transforming power.
Imagine what would happen if our community saw this kind of love in action—not just in our gatherings, but in our everyday lives. That’s the vision: to be a people known not just for what we believe, but for how we love. Because Christ first loved us, we love God, we love each other, and we love the other. This is the kind of love that changes lives, families, and even whole towns.
Matthew 22:36-39 (ESV) — > “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he 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 first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
2. John 13:34-35 (ESV)
> “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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
3. Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV)
> “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
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