Love, one of the most sincere words in the English language, and the deepest need of any human being; we all need love. We all want to feel that we are loved by others through their actions or words. Many people recognize this need for love and readily give and accept love at its various levels. Sometimes we despair in life for not being loved and find it difficult to love others. May be your home or your community has not shown you that love. You may be one of those who grew up in a loveless environment.

However, we are living in times where there is a vast amount of hatred and violence. You hear it, you see it, and you experience it. Killings, murders, road rage and even domestic violence. A day will not pass without a disturbing incident taking place. Take a look at the deteriorating trend around us. The social injustice, racial conflict, corruption and bullying. There is hatred between people, hatred between communities, and hatred between countries.

A series of questions cross our minds from this; why is there so much evil happening around us? Why are we not tolerant and compassionate towards the needs of another human being? There is a significant amount of money and resources being placed into education, counselling and rehabilitation programs, yet there is still a lack of change. Why?

We demonstrate love and compassion for a minute, and the next we demonstrate hate. A parent loves her child and then abuses him. A man loves his spouse and then resents her. Why? Why can’t we live in harmony and work together to make this world a better place? Why does our love lack consistency? Why does our love lack dependency? Why do materialistic circumstances determine our love?

Such questions could have crossed your minds very often. Unfortunately the world cannot give an answer but the Bible does. The Bible says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” It is the corrupted nature in man that makes him to commit evil or do wrong. Our life is tainted with sin. You may be cultured, dignified, educated, and rich but down within us there is the evil nature that makes us to do the wrong things. We were born with tendencies to do wrong. The Bible says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is no righteous, not even one.”

In order to love one another and show compassion and love we need a change of heart. This does not happen by trying hard but only God can change and give a new heart. Our hearts can be transformed.

2000 years ago Jesus Christ, God incarnate came into this world to demonstrate that love to the world.

The bible says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

It was God who sent His Son, and He sent Him because He loved the world He created. At the back of everything is the love of God. This love of God shows us that God is acting not to satisfy his desire for power but to satisfy His love.God is the father who cannot be happy until his wandering children have come home.

It was the world that God loved, it was not a particular nation; it was not the good people, it was not only the people who loved Him; it was the world, the unlovable and the unlovely, those who love God and those who never think of Him. All are included in this vast inclusive love of God.

When Christ was in this world, multitudes of people were following him. When he saw them, He had compassion on them. He saw them as a sheep without a shepherd. One day a person who had leprosy came to him and begged him to heal him of his disease. Jesus had compassion on him and touched the leper and he was healed.

He raised dead people to life. He is a God full of compassion and love.

The dimensions of God’s love are beyond measure. It is possible to exhaust the love of a spouse or a friend. Even of siblings or parents. But it is not possible to exhaust the love of God.

Unless God pours out his love in us we cannot demonstrate that love towards others.

The Bible says “God is love”, is one of the most uplifting and reassuring truths known to mankind. Love is the essence of His being.

Knowing the love of God, could well be the key to a well-balanced, satisfying life of peace.

His love is unconditional. One of the amazing things about God’s love is that it is extended to us when we do not deserve it and it is continuous, steadfast and strong even when we do not respond to it.

We have a tendency to show more love to the people who obviously love us and less love to those who do not. I find it easy to express my love to my wife when she pleases me but not so easy when she fails to listen to me or obey me. God is not like that.

God is Almighty and there He is able to do all that His love desires for us. God is unchangeable, so His love is unchangeable. The world around us may change but His love is fixed and unchangeable.

God is eternal, and so His love is. The bible says “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

The distance between us and God is infinite in every way. But God’s love is infinitely great to span that distance.

God’s love is a giving love. The Greek language distinguishes at least four different ways as to how the word love is used.

1. storge – Means affection. It is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring.

2. eros-Romantic or sexual love.

3. philia- Mental love. It means affectionate regard. This type of love has give and take.

But the Bible stresses a 4th kind of love, using the greek word “agape”. This is giving love. It is not based on what we receive but on what we give. This is selfless love. The greatness of God’s love for the world can be seen most clearly is in the gift that He gave. God not only loved the world but He also gave his only son Jesus Christ. So great is His love that our redemption from sin required the torturous death of His only son.

The greatest love that God demonstrates for us is by dying on the cross in order to save mankind from sin.

The Bible says “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

The Bible says “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things will become new.”

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Will you accept the incredible fact that God loves you? Will you believe that He is seeking you and wants you to experience his love? He wants to give you a new heart and fill you with His love. He loves you, in spite of your neglects, and your failures and your frustrations in life. How wonderful is the love of God towards us.

We urge you to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Will you invite Jesus Christ into your heart?

Love ever gives, forgives, outlives;

And ever stands with open hands;

And while it lives, it gives,

For this is love’s prerogative

To give, and give, and give.