1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Beloved,
The fourth pillar I introduce to you today is LOVE. This is a great one. Like Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, love is part of the personality of God. Love is the very essence of who our Father, God is. He encourages us, through the writings of His beloved apostle to abide in Him accordingly (1 John 4:8). What is it about love that makes it a kingdom pillar? The Bible says this about love:
1 Corinthians 13:3-7
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
True love is sturdy! It does not need to boast as its strength speaks for itself! It says this about love in the same chapter:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful…
That was written by Apostle Paul. Another apostle, who knew love all too well informs us in in his letters that “…Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Love overcomes! Why wouldn’t something as powerful as love be among the great pillars of the kingdom of God? There is much more to say about this great pillar. We will pick it up next time.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
