Thoughts on faith and becoming love

by PASTOR JIM KUBIAK / Contributing Writer
| May 24, 2024 1:00 AM

What is love?

Love is a concept; it affects the way we think. Love is an emotion; it affects how we feel. Love is an action; it affects what we do.

However, love is not just a concept to be understood, it’s not just an emotion to be felt, and it’s not just an action to be taken. Love is something we are meant to embody; it is something we become. And whatever we become we will manifest; it will be evident in our life.

Jesus manifested love. He was love personified (1 John 4:9). Love was THE preeminent aspect of His life and ministry. He not only led with love, love also permeated and was the primary motive for everything He thought, felt, said, and did.

So, if we embody love, if love is alive at the core of our being, we will think about love, feel love, and demonstrate love like Jesus did. The people in our circle of influence will feel loved. They will know whether they have been loved.

So, how do we do this? How do we come to the place where we can embody God’s love? The first step is surrendering our life to God.

1 John 4:15, 19 (NIV)

Whoever confesses (acknowledges, declares) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, remains) in Him and he in God. We love because He first loved us.

Then, as we spend time in intimacy with Him throughout our life journey, we will encounter more of His love. As our spirit connects with His Spirit and as we surrender our will to His, we will be transformed at the core of our being.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

And we all, who with unveiled (uncovered) faces, contemplate (gaze, behold) the Lord’s glory, are being transformed (changed) into His image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

So, do you want to know how much you are truly loved by God and in turn love people the way Jesus did? Then I invite you to surrender your life to, and subsequently pursue a lifetime of transformational intimacy with, the God of love.

Jim Kubiak serves as a pastor-at-large in Bonner County. He can be reached at JimKubiak7@gmail.com.