Love?

"Love, Love, Love! All the world needs is love." So goes the familiar line. But in today's society, the meaning of the word love has become so distorted that the Christian meaning has been diminished. Some view love as a feeling, but it is more than that. It is a decision followed by action. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." and "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34, 35).

Someone once said the difference between sympathy and compassion is that the one who sympathizes, sees and feels, but does nothing. The one who has compassion, sees, feels and then does something about the need. The word sympathy is used very few times in the Bible, but the word compassion and its forms are used extensively. Jesus always had compassion on the crowd and the people He came in contact with. He did something about their needs. And so we as His followers, must bear also bear our cross and follow Him. Be like Jesus!

The word "love" is used so extensively in the Bible that this compilation would be very lengthy. Therefore, the compilation has been reduced by eliminating some verses containing forms of the word "love" from the Old Testament. Otherwise, the compilation is complete. You may wish to observe how love for God and obedience to His commands go hand in hand as you study