16TH MAY, 2023
PASTOR OLUBI JOHNSON
CHARACTERISTICS OF DIVINE LOVE
1John 4:8 KJV
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
GIFTS, TALENTS AND RESOURCES (FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL) ARE OF NO VALUE if the use of them is not motivated and administered with the character of divine love (1Cor. 13:1-3).
The character of God is love. Divine love shows us how God relates to us and all created beings, and consequently, how we are to relate to one another.
Characteristics of Love (God) (1Cor. 13:4-7).
Love endures long and is patient and kind. God is secure and eternal and so can afford to wait for men to change and so endures their imperfections and sins. In the same way, we are to be like God.
Love is never envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. We are to be secure in our position in God in Christ that gives us all things (1Cor. 3:21-23).
Love (God) is not conceited. Each of the three Persons of the Godhead submit one to another, according to Their written Word which was mutually agreed upon before the creation of anything (Jhn. 16:13-14). We too are to be humble one to another, submitting to God’s Word, so we are not conceited, arrogant and inflated with pride!
Love (God) is not rude and does not act unbecomingly. We are to treat all men the same, using the fruit of the Spirit of goodness and gentleness (1Pet. 2:17).
Love (God) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking. We therefore should not seek our narrow self-interest, but rather, the will and purpose of God, which ultimately will be for the good of all, including ourselves (Phil. 2:4).
Love (God) is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it. We are to use the fruit of the Spirit of longsuffering and self-control to be the same way in our dealings with men (2Pt. 3:9).
God (Love) takes NO PLEASURE when bad things happen to people, even when they deserve it: He is always looking for a way to cause right and truth to prevail (Ezk. 18:23).
Love (God) bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. We should always be ready to believe the best of every person, give them space and time to do well.
It takes the wisdom of God, through the Word of God, and revelation of the Holy Spirit and the power of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, to exercise and develop these characteristics of divine love.
For more on today’s study visit:
https://bit.ly/3oa6dym
https://bit.ly/3ObhXvp
https://bit.ly/45dldfQ
https://bit.ly/3ObjfX3
Follow Pastor Olubi Johnson on Twitter, Facebook, IG, and YouTube: spcconlineoj
Web: www.spcconline.org
Get the new SPCC Mobile app on Android, IOS, Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku – https://get.theapp.co/nx25
Listen to our podcasts on any of your favourite podcast app: search for Olubi Johnson