Love

The Origin of Love

Have you ever wondered what love is or where it comes from? Love has its origin in God. It defines the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Because God is eternal, love, too, is eternal.

Why Do We Love?

God created human beings in His image, and because of that, we are designed to love—it’s written into our spiritual DNA. As His image bearers, love comes naturally to us. Yet if that’s true, why does love often feel so hard?

The Problem

Sin has corrupted God’s image in us, and with it, our ability to love has been broken. Though we still long for perfect love, we are unable to fully produce it—or even receive it—from one another. We expect others to love us perfectly, but they inevitably let us down. Likewise, others expect perfect love from us, and we fail them too. Even the strongest marriage, the closest friendship, or the most loyal family bond is not immune to disappointment. When we demand perfect love from imperfect people, it only leads to heartache. Only God loves perfectly.

What Love is Not

Many relationships are mistaken for love but are rooted in something else entirely. Attachment often masks itself as love when it’s really clinging driven by fear. Attraction can be mistaken for love when it’s merely feelings or chemistry without commitment. Bondage arises when love turns into controlling behavior, and abuse tragically disguises harm as love. Conditional love—based on performance, worth, or meeting expectations—says, “I love you if…” or “I love you because…” But such relationships fall short of true love, which is unconditional, self-giving, and rooted in God’s character.

What Love Is

True love reflects the character of God—it offers freedom, allowing the beloved to choose rather than forcing affection or loyalty. It is unconditional, not based on merit, performance, or worthiness. It is indiscriminate, not swayed by status, appearance, or background. As Romans 5:8 declares, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This kind of love does not wait for perfection but reaches out in grace, offering itself sacrificially and freely.

Do You Love Yourself?

The greatest commandment includes the call to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), which implies that a healthy, godly love of self is essential. True self-love is not rooted in selfishness but in surrender to God. It means caring for your soul—nurturing it, guiding it, and continually submitting it to Christ. When we love ourselves rightly under God’s authority, we are better equipped to love others genuinely and sacrificially.

Do We Know How to Love Others

Real love begins with understanding the other person. You can’t truly love someone without first understanding them, and understanding requires listening. But you can’t listen unless you know them, and knowing them takes time. Love is not just a declaration—it’s demonstrated through presence and care. Saying “I love you” means little if the other person says, “I don’t feel loved.” God modeled perfect love by meeting our deepest need: not by giving us what we wanted, but by offering what we truly needed—grace and forgiveness through Christ. He loved us in the way that mattered most—He saved us.

How to Love Like Jesus

Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me” (Matthew 25:40). This powerful statement calls us to see Jesus in every person, especially in the poor, the overlooked, and the hurting. True Christian love sees with spiritual eyes—recognizing the image of Christ in others—and responds with compassion. But this kind of love is not something we can generate on our own. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to love through us, allowing His presence to move us toward mercy, service, and selfless care.

Are You Afraid of God?

Our view of God is often shaped by our experiences with our earthly fathers. If our fathers were harsh, distant, or unpredictable, we may carry that fear or mistrust into our relationship with God. But Scripture reminds us that “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). God is not a reflection of broken fatherhood but its perfect fulfillment. He is both holy and tender, just and merciful. You can’t truly love God if you’re terrified of Him—genuine love grows in the security of knowing you are safe, accepted, and cherished in His presence.

Are You Using God?

Some people love God only for what He gives them—health, success, blessings—but not for who He truly is. It’s easy to slip into a transactional mindset, treating God more like a provider than a person to be adored. So ask yourself: Have I ever made a grand gesture of love for God? Do I love Him only because of the good things He gives me? Think about the biggest act of love you’ve ever done for another person—now ask yourself, what is the biggest act of love I’ve ever offered to God? Genuine love is not passive or self-serving; it gives, sacrifices, and pursues relationship for its own sake.

Expressing Love for Jesus Through Obedience

In John 21:15–19, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”—not to shame him, but to restore him. And each time, Jesus links love with action: “Feed my sheep.” This passage reveals that true love for Jesus isn’t just about words or feelings; it’s proven through obedience and sacrifice. Jesus then tells Peter that following Him will eventually lead where Peter does not want to go—a prophecy of his martyrdom. This raises sobering questions for us: Are we willing to follow Jesus even when it’s hard, uncomfortable, or painful? Are we willing to die for Christ, even in the most horrible way? True love for Jesus holds nothing back.

What is His Command?

Jesus gives us two profound commands that define the heart of Christian love: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) and “Love each other as I have loved you” (John 13:34). The first calls us to treat others with the same care and dignity we naturally seek for ourselves. The second raises the standard even higher—Jesus calls us to love with the same self-giving, sacrificial love He demonstrated. This is not just kindness; it is a call to radical, Christ-shaped love that seeks the good of others, even at a cost to ourselves.

How Should We Love Our Neighbor?

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). Christian love is defined by this ultimate act—giving your life for the sake of the beloved. But as believers, we have already died to the world: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). So what life do we now offer others? Eternal life in Christ. To truly love, then, is to share this eternal life by proclaiming the Gospel. As Paul reminds us, “How can they believe unless someone preaches to them?” (Romans 10:14). Christian love is not silent—it speaks life, offers hope, and points people to the cross.

The Union of the Holy Spirit and the Believer

When the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are united with Him in a deep and personal way—becoming one with Him, yet still fully ourselves. This mysterious union is marked by love, joy, and freedom, not control or loss of identity. Unlike demonic possession, which enslaves and dehumanizes, the Spirit’s indwelling presence liberates and transforms us. Grasping this beautiful mystery offers a glimpse into the nature of the Trinity itself: three distinct persons, perfectly united in love. In the same way, the Spirit’s presence in us draws us into divine fellowship without erasing who we are.