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, NIV
As the Bible says in the quote above, love is many things and there are many ways for us to love others. God loves us and wants to be more included in our lives, but we must be the ones to open the door to our hearts and let him in. It may sound easier said than done, but by practicing and putting in effort, by leaning on God’s strength and perseverance, God can transform our hearts.
How can we open the door to our hearts for God?
- We can accept God’s love and gifts into our lives.
- We can be grateful and praise him for all he has done for us.
- We can align ourselves closely with God’s character.
- We can place God at the center of our lives when making decisions.
- We can read the Bible and seek to understand more of his great Word.
- We can pray and converse with God throughout the good and bad.
- We can remain steadfast in our faith and trust in his plan.
But in order for us to follow in God’s character and Word, we need to understand that we are called to love. God loves us and wants us to love not only him, but to love others as well. When navigating the world and trying to tackle the many problems and sins within it, it can be testing.
So, what is the opposite of love then? That would be hate.