5 Biblical Thoughts on Love

Here are five key thoughts about what the Bible says about love:
1. God is love, and He defines it
• Love isn’t just something God does; it’s who He is (1 John 4:8). All true love flows from His character, and we learn what love is by looking at Him.
2. Love is sacrificial and action-oriented
• The supreme example is Jesus laying down His life for us (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16). Biblical love is not merely feelings or words; it expresses itself in deeds, especially toward those in need (1 John 3:18).
3. Love fulfills God’s law
• Jesus summarized the law as loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–40). Paul echoes that love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).
4. Love is the mark of true discipleship and Christian maturity
• Jesus said the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:34–35). Among faith, hope, and love, “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Without love, even impressive gifts and sacrifices amount to nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).
5. Love is patient, pure, and persevering
• Biblical love chooses patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and endurance (1 Corinthians 13:4–7). It rejoices in the truth, not in wrongdoing, and it keeps going when it’s costly, reflecting God’s steadfast love toward us.

Let’s expand on “Love is patient, pure, and persevering” with Scripture and practical applications.
Key Scriptures
• 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: “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.”
• Colossians 3:12–14: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones… compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… bearing with one another… forgiving each other… And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
• Proverbs 19:11: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
• 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
• Galatians 6:9–10: “Let us not grow weary of doing good… let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Practical Applications
1. Practice patient presence
• Slow down before responding in conflict. Count to ten, breathe, and pray, “Lord, give me Your patience” (James 1:19–20).
• Create margins in your schedule to serve and listen. Patience grows when we are not perpetually hurried.
2. Choose kindness in concrete ways
• Speak gently when you could be sharp (Proverbs 15:1).
• Do one unasked-for act of service daily for a family member, coworker, or neighbor.
3. Reject envy and boasting
• Celebrate others’ successes out loud. Send a congratulatory text or prayer of thanks when someone is blessed (Romans 12:15).
• Keep a gratitude list to shift your heart from comparison to contentment (Philippians 4:11–13).
4. Lay down pride and rudeness
• In disagreements, aim to understand before being understood. Summarize the other person’s view fairly (Philippians 2:3–4).
• Replace sarcasm with encouragement (Ephesians 4:29).
5. Don’t insist on your own way
• Practice mutual submission in marriage, church, and team settings (Ephesians 5:21).
• Ask, “What serves the other best?” and be willing to compromise on preferences, not convictions.
6. Overcome irritability and resentment
• Bring irritations to God in prayer rather than replaying them in your mind (Philippians 4:6–7).
• Keep short accounts: confess quickly, forgive quickly (Ephesians 4:26, 32).
7. Rejoice with the truth
• Speak truth in love, aiming for restoration, not victory (Ephesians 4:15; Galatians 6:1).
• Refuse to participate in gossip or half-truths; instead, protect others’ reputations (Proverbs 11:13).
8. Bear, believe, hope, endure
• Bear: Shoulder a friend’s burden by practical help—meals, childcare, rides (Galatians 6:2).
• Believe: Give the benefit of the doubt; assume the best motives until proven otherwise.
• Hope: Pray Scripture over people, trusting God’s work in them (Philippians 1:6).
• Endure: Don’t quit on difficult relationships. Set healthy boundaries when needed, but keep a redemptive posture (Romans 12:18).
A simple daily prayer
“Father, clothe me with Christ’s love today—make me patient, kind, humble, truthful, and enduring. Fill me with the Spirit so I can love as I have been loved. Amen.”
Remember: this kind of love is not self-generated; it flows from abiding in Jesus, who perfectly loved us and empowers us to love others (John 15:4–5; Romans 5:5).

Father, thank You for Your steadfast love. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today. Give me a patient heart, a gentle tongue, and kindness in my actions. Help me to listen before I speak, to forgive quickly, and to love as Christ has loved me. Guard me from irritability and selfishness, and let Your love flow through me to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father, thank You for the gift of my marriage. Today I ask for Your Spirit to clothe me with patience and love. Slow my reactions, soften my tone, and help me listen to understand, not to win. Guard me from keeping score or rehearsing offenses; teach me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Show me one practical way to serve my spouse today, and give me grace to speak life, not criticism. Heal what is tender between us, increase our unity, and let Christ’s love be the center of our home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.