And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭II Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭5‬
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

“Do what feels good to you.” “Make sure you take care of yourself first, so you can take care of others.” “Pursue your goals and passions, do what makes you happy.” “Falling in love, oh the romance of it! I always want to be ‘falling in love.’”

Some of these sayings may resonate with you (as they do with me). They may sound wise or right; they may even have a broad appeal in the public square. Each of them promises a fulfillment or peace that may not be there today. But in the end, they play with a term, love, and reduce it to a feeling. This is not God’s intention at all. Search the Bible and you will find the majority of statements defining love are active in nature. Most of them do not mention a feeling at all. And they involve self-sacrifice.

Here are some examples: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (I Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8‬)

Notice the last passage says “love is” not “love feels like.”

The love of God is self-sacrificing. It acts in ways that are counterintuitive to this world and its “Me First” stance. It actively perseveres, and is patient and kind. It tries to honor others instead of competing against them or comparing. It does not envy or contemplate evil, but rejoices in the truth. It protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres!

So the command today is to put on love. This command does not take into consideration how I feel about those I am called to love. It does not matter if they have been kind or nice to me. It does not distinguish between loving people only who treat you as you want to be treated or make you feel happy and good.

It simply says to put on love. But sometimes we don’t feel like we have any more love to give. Paul must have felt this at times too. So where do I find love when it is not inside of me to give in the moment? The Apostle John tells us here: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, SINCE GOD SO LOVED US, WE also ought to LOVE one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (I John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭12‬, emphasis mine)

I must realize that love comes from God. His love is so great for me, that I can always (and always ought to) love others well!

Lord, thank you for reviving my heart of love today. You are love! You enable me to act in love whether or not I feel like loving in the moment. Continue to teach me to act in your love more and more! I want to be full of the love of God!