“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:18-19

We are taught to love one another because God teaches us this in His word. However, because of our own selfish pride, we tend to pick and choose who we decide to love instead. We tend to grow fearful of others based on their differences. This causes us to judge and grow hatred toward other people in our lives that do not essentially live up to our standards.

Instead of recognizing how we should apply God’s love to people we do not always want to associate with, we tend to turn away from them. As this verse tells us, love teaches us to have faith instead of being fearful. If you show love toward all people, this can create peace within you and God’s light can be shown through you.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Having faith in God to love people in your life can provide you with understanding. Our pride can get in the way, and we judge others for their sins when we forget that we all struggle with our own mistakes. The love chapter in Corinthians states how we speak to others can affect our will to act toward one another; if it is not from love then it is not worth speaking. You gain nothing by tearing another person down with your words of hatred and filling your spirit with bitterness. While we are still commanded to speak the truth, we should do so in love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. ” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

God is love because He died on the cross to save everyone from their sins. He created us in His own image which means He designed us to love like He does. As discussed in the love chapter in Corinthians; experiencing and learning God’s love introduces us to all the fruits of the Spirit and teaches us to be humble. In order to have love we must seek it because it is not just placed in our laps. We must continue to seek God’s Word and trust in Him to have His love shine through us and given to others. Without God, love is selfish, prideful and envious, but with Him it saves us and others.