Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. —1 Peter 1:22
If you had the choice of being loved versus having great wealth without the ability to love or be loved, which would you choose? I can’t fathom any greater satisfaction than being able to love and be loved. A loveless life with great wealth would be fruitless, meaningless, and lonely.
Love is so valuable and so important that Jesus addressed it as our greatest commandment.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus reveals that love is the foundation for everything you do and believe in.
Peter inspires us to “love one another deeply.” He did not stop at “love one another.” He added the word “deeply,” which adds such richness to the way we love. To gain even further perspective on how to love deeply, go to 1 Corinthians 13, which describes love as:
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
It does not envy.
It does not boast.
It is not proud.
It is not rude.
It is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects.
Always trusts.
Always hopes.
Always perseveres.
Love never fails.
It is amazing how this scripture concludes with “Love never fails,” which is the bottom line to loving deeply. Natural love has a chance to fail, to disappear like the morning dew, and thus natural love has no lasting value. However, God’s love and His inspiration for love are perfect. His love has no boundaries, it has no contingencies, it carries no judgments, it possesses no timetable, it harbors no selfishness, it does not get entangled, and it does not get exhausted. Showing love God’s way has no capability of failing—ever. So, to love one another deeply, including those who seem undeserving, you are to move beyond natural love by taking it to a majestic level.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. —Ephesians 5:1-2
Takeaway:
Failure to embrace God’s law of love only brings poverty to one’s soul—a life without the ability to love and be loved deeply.
Reflections:
- Lately, how have you demonstrated the depth of God’s love to those around you?
- If your ability to show love fails at times, how does that resonate in your soul when you are guided to love everyone “deeply”?
- Take a few minutes to pray to the Lord about how to love God and others deeply. Afterward, sit quietly and listen for how the Spirit is guiding you.
