Love One Another: A Human Impossibility Today?

The Bible is full of references to the subject of love in its connection with faith so that we receive the correct impression that true love is in direct relation to its Author, God himself. Without God’s nearness, true love is not possible, and the greater the distance from him, the greater the level of distortion of that love.

In Chapter 13 of the Gospel of John, as well as in Chapter 13 of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, we learn that radical love is commanded of us and that this quality of love is clearly described in terms of profound selflessness, self-forgetfulness, and a deliberate preference for other people.

What is most surprising and paradoxical about God’s command to love beyond the norm is the obvious truth discovered by anyone who has attempted it, namely, that it’s a human impossibility. We find that the more we try to achieve this level of love, the more we short of it, and the more out-of-reach it appears.

It is only when we place God at the center of our key relationships that we become faithful, loving, loyal, and caring people because God is faithful and loving.

So love, as defined by 1 Corinthians 13, should sound something like this to us—

If I am a leader in the church but have not love…
If I teach Bible studies and Sunday school but have not love…
If I’m serving, but have not love…
If I profess to love and follow Christ but have not love…
If I am a Christian but have not love…

No love, no kindness—it all means nothing. In God’s sight, all our efforts are empty.

For we are called to—

• Promote and prefer others, not ourselves
• Be kind and patient
• Speak words of encouragement, not those that find fault, slander, and destroy
• Reflect Christ’s love daily in every action of ours

We live out the intent to be affectionate and gentle servants of others because God is there with his gifts in hand to grant us the power and ability to be affectionate, loving, patient, and selfless. He grants his character to us through his always present and faithful Spirit. Our trust bond in God is the only conduit through which such love can be fully realized. There’s just no other way, no other connection, no other hope for achieving what we can’t live without.

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John I. Snyder

John I. Snyder is an international pastor (currently serving at Starnberg International Church in Starnberg, Germany), conference speaker, and author of the book Resenting God: Escape the Downward Spiral of Blame (ranked #1 on Christian Ethics in Theology on Amazon) from Abingdon Press. His highly acclaimed prayer guide Your 100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God (ranked #1 on Meditations on Amazon books, #1 on Prayer on Amazon Kindle, #9 on Christian living on Amazon) from Thomas Nelson Publishers has transformed the lives of readers all over the world, taking them on a 100-day journey in prayer over a specific issue or circumstance in their lives. John received his Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, and he received his Doctor of Theology degree magna cum laude in New Testament Studies from the University of Basel, Switzerland. John has been featured on Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, Fox News, Faith Radio Network, Cru, American Family Radio Network, In the Market with Janet Parshall, The Bottom Line with Roger Marsh, Miracle Channel, Bill Martinez Live, and many more.

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