From the pen of Dr. Sam Jones 

Love one another, for love is of God.

He who loves is born of God;

And knows God.

He who does not love, does not know God,

For God is love, God is love, God is love.

These beautiful words about our God were penned by John in I John 4:7 and they serve as the alto part in the hymn “The Greatest Commands.” God is love; this is one of the outstanding attributes of God. Regardless of our gender, social-class, political view, ethnicity, nationality, race, level of education, religious belief, etc., God loves us. God is love! He loves us regardless if we reciprocate His love, because God is love (cf. Rom. 5:8).  Someone has written the following statement about God’s love, “It’s deeper than the ocean and wider than the sky.” This is a marvelous statement, but it is inadequate in its attempt to describe the love of God. God’s love is immeasurable.

If we are going to be like our Father God, then we must love. Love ought to be who we are. We love! Paul declares, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love…I am nothing” (I Cor. 13:1-2). Jesus testifies the way we love defines whose we are (Jo. 13:35).

A story was told sometimes ago about an actor who was playing the part of Christ in a Passion play. As he carried the cross up the hill a bystander in the crowd began heckling him, shouting insults. Finally, the actor had taken all of it he could take. So he threw down his cross, walked over to the bystander, and punched him. After the play was over, the director told him, “I know he was a pest, but I have to fire you. We just can’t have you behaving this way while playing the part of Jesus. The actor begged, “Please give me one more chance. I can handle it if it happens again.” So the director decided to give him another chance. The next day he was once again carrying this cross up the street. Sure enough, the heckler was back. You could tell that the actor was really trying to control himself, but it was about to get the best of him. He was clinching his fists and grinding his teeth. Finally, he looked at the heckler and said, “I’ll meet you after the resurrection!”

Christians can’t pick and choose the times and circumstances to display love; as God is love, they love, i.e., they display love all the time, regardless of the situation. Remember, God is love and His children love.