Love Cannot Be Explained

Did you ever wonder how God could love such a person like yourself? I have about me. His love is definitely something that can’t be explained. But He loves us anyhow.

He expects us to love others the same way He loves us. In fact, God’s entire law is built upon that type of love.

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:10.

“Love does no wrong to others,” how can that be explained? Even on one of our best days, we can mess up with someone in one way or another.

So how do we maintain the type of love God expects of us? Especially during those times when we feel that someone doesn’t deserve our love.

Loves Fundamentals

In this chapter, the Apostle Paul explained to us the fundamentals of love. He explained that making it an obligation becomes the first step on our part to love others.

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:8

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The apostle continued by listing a few of the Ten Commandments as the foundation for loving others.

For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder, you must not steal. And you must not covet.” Romans 13:9

Most of us can observe these commandments without any problems. We can obey these even with people we don’t necessarily like.

Remember though, these are just the foundation of what love is built on. To break any of those commandments or any like them requires a conscious effort. Let’s look at the rest of verse 9.

These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9

Love, Defined by Paul but not explained

The Apostle Paul gave us a straightforward but short definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It consists of only five words.

Love is patient and kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4

But in that same chapter, he told us how worthless life is without love. He used himself in the following illustration.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge.

And if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

In the same verse containing his definition of love, he also explained what it isn’t.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. 1 Corinthians 13:4

So Paul gave us the characteristics of love and what it isn’t. He laid out for us the worthlessness of a person’s life who doesn’t have it. He also explained what love never does and when it rejoices.

It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. And it does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1 Corinthians 13:5-6

God is Love

One of the things I like about the Bible is, it didn’t try to explain who God is. It didn’t begin by saying “ In the beginning, there was a God.” No, it says, In the beginning, God created!

When it comes to God and love, John wrote in his first epistle that God is love. In his gospel, he also quoted a statement Jesus said about how God showed His love.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Plus the Bible tells us nothing can keep God from loving us. It doesn’t matter what we think about Him, He still loves us. That is something about His love that cannot be explained.

When one accepts Jesus and lives for Him they have chosen to accept God’s love. And why not make that choice? Look what the Bible says about His love.

The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love. Deuteronomy 7:9
But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:26
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. Isaiah 54:10

Allow God’s Love to Guide You

Let’s finish up by taking one more look into Romans 13. We cannot go wrong when we allow the love of God to guide us in our relationships with others.

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:10

We have a limited time on this earth, either because of our death or the coming of Christ. Therefore, Paul continued by talking about the importance and urgency of living in God’s love.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. . . . clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:11,14

Evil desires can easily incite us into acting out those desires, thus moving us away from God’s love.

Lord, in our daily interaction with others, help us to show them the same love you show us. Evil is all around us, please remind us often of how you could come for your church at any time.