LOVE

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This is something thats been on my mind for some time, just every now and then I think about it "love". But I'm not thinking about the love for another human rather, the love God has for me and how I should love Him. I think sometimes God puts things in our life to help us learn how to love others, for me when someone does something I don't like or negative to me or I feel un-returned love or am afraid to express it, I look to the cross and I think wow, how many times have I turned my back on God, yet God in his great love for me sacrificed willingly Himself that I may be reunited with Him. This is the kind of love I want to learn and live. A kind of love that isn't based upon what I can get but rather about what I can give. My prayer is that I want to learn the love of Christ, and to live that out. This is important as I found out, about two weeks ago as I concentrated on the book of 1 John, and it emphasises this point:

1Jn 3:16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].
1Jn 3:17 But if anyone has this world's goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?
1Jn 3:18 Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

and:

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
1Jn 4:8 He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him.
1Jn 4:10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!
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1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].
1Jn 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

1Jn 5:1  EVERYONE WHO believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring).
1Jn 5:2  By this we come to know (recognize and understand) that we love the children of God: when we love God and obey His commands (orders, charges)--[when we keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and His teaching].
1Jn 5:3  For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous).
1Jn 5:4  For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?