What Does The Bible Say About Love?
The Bible speaks of love with passion, compassion, and authority. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s Word describes and instructs us on how to love the Lord our God, our neighbor, and ourselves. It’s a timeless truth for all:
1. God’s Love for Us – God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son as a ransom for our sins (John 3:16). He sent Jesus because He desires that we should, “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). The Bible tells us that, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and, “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world, so that we might have eternal life through Him” (1 John 4:9 NLT). God’s love is always faithful and true, and He always will remain our loving Father who is ready to give us mercy and grace when we sin (1 John 1:9).
2. Our Love for God – We must always give thanks and praise to the Lord our God (Psalm 86:12). He is the one who created us and sustains our lives. To love Him is to keep His commandments (John 14:15; Deuteronomy 11:1). To love Him is to surrender our lives to Him and His will for us (Galatians 5:24; John 15:4–17). We must also remember that, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).
3. Our Love for Our Neighbor – The Bible commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). We must “do good to your neighbor” and show kindness and compassion to them (Galatians 6:10). We must treat everyone with respect and kindness and treat them as we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).
4. Our Love for Ourselves – We should “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). The Bible tells us that we should take care of our bodies and take our physical and mental health seriously (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are instructed to do everything in moderation and to practice self-control (Galatians 5:23).
What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness?
1. God’s Forgiveness – God is merciful and forgives our sins if we turn back to Him in repentance (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 55:6–7). He is a just God who is slow to anger and abounding in love and mercy (Nehemiah 9:17; Jonah 4:2; Psalm 145:8). He does not remember our sins if we turn back to Him in repentance (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34).
2. Our Forgiveness of Ourselves – We must forgive ourselves when we sin. We must “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). We must understand that we are capable of grace, mercy, and forgiveness and that no matter how big the sin, we can make the effort to repent and start fresh.
3. Our Forgiveness of Others – We must forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:14–15). We must not exact revenge but rather “leave room for God’s wrath” (Romans 12:19). We must practice compassion, mercy, and forgiveness towards others, understanding that everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
4. The Power of Forgiveness – The Bible tells us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Forgiveness is powerful because it releases us from the negative energy of anger, resentment, and bitterness that can be destructive to our heart and soul. It can lead to peace and healing.
What Does The Bible Say About Joy?
1. God Is our Joy Source – joy comes from the Lord, who is our strength and our shield (Psalm 28:7). He has promised us that we can have “fullness of joy” if we put our trust in Him (Psalm 16:11). We can find joy in His presence since He fills our hearts with the joy of salvation (Isaiah 61:10).
2. Joy Comes from Surrendering – When we submit to the Lord, He fills us with joy (Psalm 100:2). We must surrender ourselves to Him and keep our eyes on Him and His promises, for He has promised us, “I will turn their mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13 NKJV). As we focus on Him, our hearts will become filled with joy (Nehemiah 8:10).
3. Joy Comes from the Gospel – The gospel of the Lord brings joy to the heart of each believer who hears it (Romans 15:13). As we study and obey the gospel, we will be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy that will be evident in our lives (1 Peter 1:8). This joy will reach its highest point when we are united with the Lord in His presence (2 Corinthians 1:24).
4. Joy Comes from Serving Others – When we serve others with a joyful heart, it is pleasing to God (Matthew 25:21). Joy is contagious and as we spread it to others with our words and deeds, it will bring rejoicing in the heart which in turn produces even more joy in us. As we express joy, our joy will overflow and be multiplied (Acts 13:52).
What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
1. The Need for Faith – The Bible teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We must have faith that He exists and that He is the only true God (John 8:24; Romans 10:17). We must also believe that He can do all things, no matter how impossible it may seem (Ephesians 3:20).
2. The Benefits of Faith – We are blessed when we have faith in the Lord (Psalm 84:12). He is the one who will sustain us, protect us, and never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:8). We will find strength when we trust in Him and hope when we call on Him (Isaiah 12:2). Faith brings us peace and joy as we trust in Him and wait for His promises to come true (Romans 5:2; 15:13; James 1:2–8).
3. The Necessity of Faith – We cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). We must have faith in Him and operate in fear and honor of Him (Proverbs 1:7). We must walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We must also abide in Him daily so that our faith will not waiver (John 15:4–6; Proverbs 3:4–6).
4. The Triumph of Faith – It is through faith that we are saved and conquer our fears (Romans 10:17). It is through faith that we receive strength in moments of weakness and courage in moments of fear (Hebrews 11:1). We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Faith brings us closer to the Lord and allows us to live our lives filled with His abundant grace and mercy.
What Does The Bible Say About Prayer?
1. God Hears Our Prayers – God is the only one who can answer our prayers and He has promised that He will listen and answer them according to His will (Jeremiah 33:3; 1 John 5:14). We must come to Him in humility, seek His face, and pour out our hearts before Him (Psalm 31:19).
2. Prayer Must Be Made with Faith – We must pray with faith and believe that God will answer us (James 1:5–7). As we pray, we must be faithful and steadfast to Him and His will (1 Peter 4:7). We must also recognize that our relationship with the Lord is key to prayer; we must “abide in Him” and have faith that He will work all things out according to His divine plan (John 15:5–7; Ephesians 3:20–21).
3. Prayer Should Be Constant – We must pray continually and keep watch over our hearts (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should pray without ceasing and not become faint (Luke 18:1; Philippians 4:6). We must also approach the Lord with a spirit of thanksgiving and a heart filled with joy (Psalm 100:4; Philippians 4:4–6; Colossians 4:2).
4. Prayer Has a Purpose – We must always be mindful of why we pray. We are to present our requests to the Lord for His will for our lives (Philippians 4:6). We must seek Him, acknowledge Him, and honor Him in all that we do (Psalm 145:18). Prayer brings us closer to the Lord, gives us strength in times of weakness, and allows us to experience His love and grace.
What Does The Bible Say About Wisdom?
1. The Source of Wisdom – Wisdom comes from God and is found in His Word (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5). We are to seek wisdom and understanding from Him, asking Him for guidance (Proverbs 3:5–6; James 1:5). We can find guidance in the scriptures, praying and asking God for understanding, listening to His direction and relying fully on Him.
2. The Benefit of Wisdom – Wisdom brings knowledge, insight and understanding that can not be found in human nature or worldly standards (Proverbs 3:13–15). It is the key to unlocking the power of the Lord and results in actions that are based in truth, love and righteousness. It allows us to make decisions and take actions that will lead us closer to the Lord and bring glory to Him.
3. Where to Find Wisdom – The Bible has much to say about wisdom and how to obtain it. We must ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7–8). We can find it while meditating on God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us (Psalm 1:1–3; 19:7–8). We can also find it in the counsel of wise and godly people (Proverbs 13:10).
4. The Result of Wisdom – As we continually seek wisdom, God will grant it generously (James 1:5). We will be blessed with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and insight that will give us strength in times of need, bring peace in moments of uncertainty, and equip us to make wise decisions. With wisdom, we can please the Lord and live a
