Editor’s Note: The following content is adapted from the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2022)
By Angela Perritt
“Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is: “Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:28-31 (NET)
Can I be honest with you? There are days when I don’t feel very loving. Days when I feel I don’t have an ounce of love to give. But I’ve learned that love isn’t a feeling; it’s an action. You can love someone without feeling love for them. It sounds crazy, I know; but it’s true! How? Because whether you feel it or not, you have the capacity to love well, deeply, and sacrificially because that is how God loves you—completely.
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The Impossible Made Possible
I know it sounds impossible, but you can choose to love regardless of how you feel because God’s love is in you. Love is not something you have to muster up. God has lovingly given his love to you so you can lovingly give it away. God’s love is a gift meant to be regifted. When you choose to love others, you choose to be more like Christ.
Be the brave one who reaches out because God has reached out to you. Be the bridge of love that corrects people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and languages. You can do this because God has already done it for you.
[Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: The Greatest Commandment—Love God Greatly]
Love the Way You Were Created To
Don’t feel like you can love others the way God is calling you to? You’re right; you can’t. You have to reside in him; to draw your love and strength from God. He is the only one who can give you the love that levels boundaries, destroys hatred, and crosses lines. You can do this, but you can’t do it without Jesus.
Now is the perfect time to show a watching world what it means to rise up and love the way we were created to love. Now is the time to love with God’s love. This is only an impossible task if you don’t reside in God’s love. Love extravagantly and fully.
Love because God first loved you.
This article was written by Angela Perritt, founder and director of Love God Greatly. It is adapted from the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible. Learn more and order your copy today.
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