Keys To The Kingdom

Hello friends and welcome back to Abounding In Love! So far in this series we have defined love, abounding, overflowing, and enough; and, also, we have discussed the 'showing' and 'saying' of love. There is just one more thing I want to do before getting into our Biblical hunt.

I want to talk about why it is important to love. At first glance, this seems obvious, right? But, humor me, and think for a moment why it is so important. Maybe you had the same response I did when I put thought to the matter:

"It's important because... it just is, right?"

Here, I thought it was easy to know why love is important, and I think it is, easy to 'know'. But, man, it's hard to put into words, right?! Luckily, I don't have to, because the Bible has done so for me!

Just check out 1 Corinthians chapter 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor, and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Without love, we are nothing and can only gain nothing. Without love, we would lack joy, hope, and perseverance. Without love we would fall victim to every snare that the enemy can muster.

Let's see what else this chapter has to say about 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 or wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (and part of 8)

It is through love that we can have patience, kindness, generosity, and joy. These are just the opposite of nothing.

And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

"But the greatest of these is love."

The greatest thing ever to touch this earth is love. I'm not talking about earthly love, but Heavenly love. The love that manifested itself as Jesus...

Jesus... the one born in a stable and laid in an animal trough. The King of kings, with delicate baby skin, His head lay on the dirty, scratchy, rough, hay... for me...

Jesus... the one who was falsely accused, beaten, and hung on a cross, suffering a terrible death... for me...

Jesus... the one who shouted in painful agony, forgiving the ones who forced such misery onto Him...

Jesus said, "Father, forgiven them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Luke 23:34

Jesus... the one who willingly took the world's sin onto His flesh, causing the one who meant everything to Him, to turn away from Him, adding another layer to His misery... for me...

Jesus... the one who was buried... for me....

and He rose again... for me... He... He did it all for me... He did it all for you... He did it because of love... He gave us...

(why it is important to love/keys to the kingdom)

And if you love me, keep my commands.

John 14:15 (Jesus' words)

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too love them and show myself to them.

John 14:21

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

John 14:23

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

John 15:10

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

John 15:12-13

(why love is important)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a mulititude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8