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INTRO: the opposite of love is not "hate"
"Love" is found in the Bible 505 times
"Love*" is found: 687 times
First verses I learned:
1John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him
1 Corinthians 13 The Love chapter
This chapter lists 7 things love is NOT and 8 things love IS
NEGATIVE DESCRIPTIONS OF LOVE:
1. Not Envious
James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
2. Not Proud
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Proverbs 16:5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
3. Not Rude
4. Not Self-seeking
5. Not easily angered
Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret it leads only to evil.
Psalm 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love
6. Does not keep a record of wrongs
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
7. Does not Delight in evil
Psalm 37:27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land for ever
Psalm 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
POSITIVE DESCRIPTIONS OF LOVE:
1. Patient
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love
2. Kind
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
3. Rejoicing in the truth
Psalm 33:21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
4. Always protects
Psalm 91:14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
5. Always trusts
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
6. Always hopes
Psalm 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
1Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
7. Always perseveres
Psalm 31:23 Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.
Psalm 119:159 See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.
8. Never fails
Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last for ever, my righteousness will never fail.
Lamentations 3:22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
Jesus said:
John 15:12-17 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
(all verses from the NIV Bible)
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