In a world filled with conflict, division, anxiety, and outrage, it is easy to ask, “Where is the love?” We see tension between nations, arguments in families, hostility online, and impatience in our own hearts. We know love is needed, but we often forget what true love really is.
The word “love” gets used for almost everything. We say we love food, hobbies, pets, friends, and family. But Scripture gives us a deeper picture. In 1 John 4, we are told that “God is love.” Love is not merely a feeling, preference, or sentimental idea. Love begins with God Himself.
The clearest picture of God’s love is Jesus on the cross. God did not wait for us to become lovable before loving us. He moved toward us while we were broken, sinful, and unable to save ourselves. Jesus gave His life so that we could be forgiven, restored, and brought into relationship with God.
This means Christianity is not first about how much we love God. It is about how much God has loved us. When we truly receive His love, it changes us from the inside out. His love fills the empty places in our hearts and frees us from fear, shame, and striving.
Then, as His love fills us, it overflows through us. We love because He first loved us. We do not have to ration love as if it might run out. In Christ, we have more than enough to give to our friends, families, neighbors, strangers, and even enemies.
So where is the love? If you belong to Jesus, His love lives in you through the Holy Spirit. The world needs that love expressed through ordinary people willing to serve, forgive, give, and sacrifice.
Action Steps:
1. Ask God to show you one difficult person you can intentionally love this week.
2. Do one sacrificial act of love: encourage, forgive, serve, give, or show up for someone in need.
This article used generative AI via Pulpit AI to transform one of Chris' sermons into this article. The content is original to CDM, with some help from Pulpit AI adapting it into article form.
