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Love is the most characteristic word of Christianity. It is not found in a mere expression in words but is evidenced by the actions it prompts. It is motivated by the Spirit of the Lord. It gives witness to the depths of spirituality obtained by serving the Lord. As part of the fruit of the Spirit of the Lord it can produce a harvest of love and caring. Gal. 5:22.
Jesus commanded and challenged His disciples to love one another with the same measure of love which He had displayed for them. That is the agape love which may only be found in the Lord. That is the true mark of a disciple of the Lord Jesus. John 13:34.
Love is essential for growth and the development of the life of Christ within those who would be members of the body of Christ. It is the unifying factor of the body. It enables all to love and appreciate those members of the body which may not be the most cooperative. Paul said that the unlovely, the unruly members are most necessary. Love enhances the construction of the whole bringing it to its perfection in Christ. There will be no building, no completed body without love. Those failing to possess it will be cast aside as unfit to be a part of the building of the Lord. Eph. 4:16.
Where there is love, there is obedience to the Word of the Lord. Respect and conformity born out of love for the Word will produce perfect love. A mature love of the greatest depth, creating an assurance that we are in Christ Jesus. 1 John 2:5 Those who live and have their being saturated with the love of the Lord are alive in Him. Their life source is the love of the Lord for them and in return their love for Him. Because He is love, those who are truly in Him live in, and express that love constantly in their lives. John said that in this manner love is made complete among us. The amplified version gives us the translation.
“In this union and communion with Him” we have great confidence and are without fear. 1 John 4:16 Fear is a factor that we face in many areas of life today and can only increase as we come closer and closer to the end of the age. However, where there is true love for the Lord and that love is a living part of our lives, that love being perfected, it overcomes all types of fear. Fear, worry, concern about today and the future are put to rest when the perfect love of the Lord Jesus fills and floods the heart and life. 1 John 4:18.