When LOVE is your last name, you spend a lot of time thinking about love. I’ve thought about how it’s been applied in my life and the way I’ve applied it to others – whether it’s through inviting someone to grab coffee or just having a two minute conversation. It’s through those conversations that we have the opportunity to show love.

I grew up hearing about God’s love in church, but as I get older and think about it more deeply, I seem to understand it now from a different perspective and realize just how powerful and life-changing it is.

God is Love

I think understanding that God is love is an important first step. I think about even the most popular Bible verse in the world:

“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.” John 3:16

The more I reflect on that verse, the more it hits me. God didn’t just feel love for us; He did something about it. He gave up His own Son for us. I mean, think about that. He gave the only thing up in the world that mattered to him – His son. That’s not just some easy task; that’s a love that acts. That’s a love that sacrifices everything for the good of others.In 1 John 4:8, it says, “God is love.” That’s the core of who He is. His love isn’t just something He gives – it’s a part of His very nature. So when we talk about love, it’s not just an idea. It’s grounded in who God is. Love is what motivates everything God does. Therefore, in turn, we should go out and spread love.

I think back to when I first realized I needed to fully submit myself to God. I was at Forest Home Christian Camp on a day where our young adults team went up. I remember seeing teens as young as 12 telling me their testimony and their love for God. It so deeply impacted me that these kids were so in love with God. I realized then that I couldn’t just be half in. I’m either all in or out – 99% obedience is 100% disobedience.

Love as a Commandment

Something that always stood out to me was what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

It’s easy to see love as something we do when it feels good, but Jesus doesn’t just suggest love – He commands it. And not just in a general, “be nice” kind of way. He’s talking about a radical, all-in, sacrificial love. Loving God with everything you’ve got – your heart, your soul, and your mind – means that loving Him is the top priority in your life. It’s about choosing Him above everything else. It’s not easy, but it’s what He commands.I think back to what I was told all the time as a kid: love your neighbor as yourself. That means everyone around us. Friends, family, strangers – even the people we don’t have the best relationship with. And it’s not just about feeling love; it’s about living it out. It’s showing kindness, caring for others, forgiving when it’s tough, and putting their needs ahead of our own. Jesus didn’t make exceptions. He told us to love like He loves us, no matter what.

The Ultimate Kind of Love

I think sometimes we think it’s okay to say unkind things about others, whether that’s through gossip, word of mouth, or just unkind thoughts. However, that’s the kind of thing we need to avoid. We are called to love others, not called to tear others down. We need to have sacrificial love – the kind of love God has for us. It’s not based on what we do or how we behave. It’s the kind of love that says, “I love you, even if you don’t love me back. I love you because that’s who I am.”

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul talks about what love in action looks like. It’s not about being the most perfect Christian, because we all slip; but it’s about making a choice to be patient, kind, and forgiving. That passage always makes me think: if I’m really trying to live out God’s love, I need to be willing to put others first, be slow to anger, and not hold grudges. In other words, love isn’t just about how I feel, it’s about what I do. It’s about being a reflection of God’s heart in everything I say and do. I need to love others so much that they walk away from the conversation knowing that, “God is love.”

Love in Action

One thing I’ve realized more and more is that love isn’t just something we talk about – it’s something we do. Jesus didn’t just want us to say we love others… He showed them what it looked like. He washed His disciples’ feet, healed the sick, and hung out with people who were rejected by society. He even loved the people who crucified Him. That’s an example of love we need to have – a love that when someone wrongs us, we can look at them with so much compassion and love.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

That one’s super hard. Loving your enemies? I get it, but that’s incredibly hard… yet, that’s what He commands us to do. That’s what makes His love so radical. It’s easy to love people who love you back. It’s easy to love the people who are kind to you. But Jesus’ love pushes us beyond that. It calls us to love in ways that are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and even painful. It challenges me every day to love the people I find hardest to love.

Love and Unity in the Body of Christ

I understand my age plays a huge role. I haven’t lived life fully yet. However, I feel like God has given me this gift of loving others that I need to share. I know this whole thing sounds like a sermon, but when I prayed about writing this, I felt that He wanted me to share what was on my heart. I’m still figuring out my place in the church and the world, but one thing that stands out to me is the power of love in creating a community. Jesus prayed for His followers to be united in love, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:21). If we’re really living in God’s love, then we should be able to look past our differences – whether it’s political opinions, backgrounds, or disagreements – and come together as one family. Love isn’t about uniformity; it’s about being united in Him, despite our differences.

When we love each other the way Jesus loves us, we become a reflection of who He is to the world. We show the world that God is here, that He’s alive in us, and that His love can transform even the messiest of situations. When we, as the church, love each other well, we create a space so inviting that people can’t help but leave here feeling the love and passion for Christ.

A Life Transformed by Love

At the end of the day, love is the most powerful thing we’ve got. It’s not just a feeling – it’s an action, a decision, and a lifestyle. When we choose to love the way God loves us, we reflect His heart to the world. And that’s what I want to dedicate and give my entire life to be about: loving God with everything I’ve got. I’ve submitted and will be a vessel to loving others in a way that shows the world who He is.Love isn’t always easy. It’s messy, it’s hard, and it can hurt; but it’s also the most rewarding thing we can do. I’m learning that love, especially God’s love, has the power to change lives, including my own. I believe that if we all start living out this radical, sacrificial love, we can see the world change one act of love at a time.

It’s not about getting what we want – it’s about giving everything we have to others, just like Jesus did.

God bless you in this season.