THE GREATEST OF THESE PT 2: LOVE IN ACTION
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
LOVE IN ACTION
The world often defines love as an emotion—something that comes and goes, dependent on circumstances and feelings. But Scripture presents a much different picture: love is a deliberate action, a powerful force that shapes how we live, relate, and serve.
Biblical love—the love we are called to embody as followers of Christ—is revolutionary. It is a love that perseveres, forgives, and serves, even when it is undeserved.
Love is not just a virtue to admire, it is a call to action.
LOVE IS
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, beginning with love. This order is intentional—love is not just the first fruit listed; it is the root through which all the others grow.
The presence of agape love in a believer’s life is the clearest evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. This means that joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all flow from love.
Paul reaffirms this in Colossians 3:14:
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Paul gives us a detailed description of what Spirit-produced love looks like in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Love is patient → It does not rush to judgment but endures with grace.
Love is kind → It actively seeks the good of others.
Love does not envy or boast → True love finds joy in another’s success rather than competing.
Love is not arrogant or rude → It treats others with dignity and respect.
LOVE IS
In a world that constantly encourages self-promotion, personal gain, and looking out for our own interests, the biblical model of love stands in stark contrast.
Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significan than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Love means choosing to place the needs, desires and well-being of others ahead of our own—not out of obligation but as a reflection of Christ’s love.
Sacrificial love is grounded in humility.
The ultimate demonstration of humble love is Christ.
Jesus was concerned with demonstrating love in action. In doing so, He set an example for all His followers— To Love Is To Serve.
LOVE IS
Agape love is not a passive feeling or a theoretical concept—it requires intentional action.
Jesus makes this abundantly clear in Luke 10:25-37, where He tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Through this story, Jesus challenges us to embrace a love that moves beyond sentiment into sacrificial, practical action.
This parable teaches us several key truths about the action of love:
→ Love crosses social and cultural barriers.
→ Love is costly.
→ Love often demands something from us.
→ Love moves beyond words to action.
How do we apply this kind of love in our daily lives?
→ Be aware – Love begins with seeing.
→ Be willing – Love requires a willingness to be inconvenienced.
→ Be generous – Love gives freely, expecting nothing in return.
→ Be Christlike – Love flows from abiding in Christ.
Jesus is clear: love must be active, and sacrificial. It must go beyond comfort, beyond convenience, beyond the boundaries we create.
Let us not merely agree with Jesus, let’s obey Him.
“You go, and do likewise.”
→ As we engage in conversation, let Paul’s words to the Colossian church be our framework:
Colossians 4:6 – ‘Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.’
TABLE TIME:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Paul describes biblical love as intentional, sacrificial, and persevering.
How does this contrast with cultures definition of love?
How does the biblical definition of love as an action rather than just an emotion challenge your current understanding and practice of love?
Can you think of a time when you had to choose to act in love, even when you didn’t feel like it? What was the outcome?
Galatians 5:22-23 lists love as the first fruit of the Spirit.
Why do you think love is the foundation for all the other fruits?
How does Colossians 3:12-14 reinforce the idea that love “binds everything together in perfect harmony”?
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, what do his actions teach us about love that transcends social, cultural, and personal biases?
Considering the parable of the Good Samaritan, what ‘wounded travelers’ in our lives or community might God be calling us to show active compassion towards?
At the end of the parable, Jesus commands, ‘Go and do likewise.’ The message reminded us that true agape love isn’t something we can manufacture on our own—it flows from abiding in Christ. What practical steps can we take to deepen our relationship with Him and allow His love to flow through us to others?
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER:
DAILY DEVOTIONAL:
Monday: Love in Action
Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Galatians 5:22-23
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Love is not just a feeling; it is an action—a way of life that reflects the very heart of God. When Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13, he does not speak of it as an abstract concept but as something that is lived out through patience, kindness, humility, and endurance.
Likewise, in Galatians 5:22-23, Paul places love at the top of the list of the fruit of the Spirit, suggesting that love is not only the foundation but also the defining mark of a life led by the Holy Spirit. Without love, our faith is empty (1 Corinthians 13:1-3), and without love, none of the other fruits—joy, peace, patience, kindness—can fully take root in our lives.
Consider how love is demonstrated in your daily life. Are you quick to listen and extend grace, or do you react with impatience? Do you show kindness even when it’s inconvenient? Is your love genuine, or is it selective based on how others treat you?
Today, choose one characteristic of love from these passages and commit to intentionally practicing it. Whether it’s showing patience to a difficult coworker, extending kindness to a stranger, or choosing forgiveness over resentment, let your actions reflect the transforming power of God’s love.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for showing me what true love looks like through Jesus. Help me to move beyond words and emotions into actions that reflect Your love. Fill me with patience, kindness, and humility as I interact with others today. Let my life be a testimony of Your love at work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday: Sacrificial Love
Reading: Philippians 2:3-8, John 13:1-17
Scripture:
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV)
“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
John 13:12-15 (ESV)
“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.’”
True love is sacrificial—it does not seek recognition or personal gain, but instead prioritizes the needs of others. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2 that Jesus Himself set the ultimate example by humbling Himself, taking on the form of a servant, and giving His life for us.
We see this same humility in John 13, when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. This was an act of love, not just service. In doing so, Jesus shattered cultural expectations, showing that love is not about position, power, or status—it is about serving with humility.
Reflect on areas in your life where pride or self-interest might be holding you back from loving sacrificially. Are there relationships where you resist serving because you feel it is beneath you? Are you willing to show love even when it is unrecognized, unreciprocated, or undeserved?
Today, find a way to serve someone in love—even if it costs you something. It might be giving up your time, showing kindness to someone who has wronged you, or choosing humility in a situation where you want to be right.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to love as You love. Remove any pride, selfishness, or fear that keeps me from serving others sacrificially. Help me to see opportunities to humble myself and put others before me. May my love reflect the selfless love of Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday: Love That Crosses Barriers
Reading: Luke 10:25-37, Romans 5:6-8
Scripture:
Luke 10:30-33 (ESV)
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.”
*Romans 5:8 (ESV)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
*
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a radical lesson in love. The Samaritan—the least expected person—was the one who stopped to help the wounded man while religious leaders walked away.
This challenges us: Do we only love those who are easy to love, or do we love across divisions, differences, and discomfort?
Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8 that God loved us while we were still sinners. He did not wait for us to be worthy. This is the love we are called to extend—a love that does not discriminate or hesitate.
Who in your life might be a “Samaritan”—someone you avoid or struggle to love? Are there people you’ve unintentionally ignored or judged?
Ask God to help you love beyond your comfort zone today.
Prayer:
Jesus, help me love without limits. Show me where I have allowed bias, fear, or indifference to keep me from loving others as You do. Give me the courage to extend kindness, compassion, and grace—especially to those I might overlook. Amen.
Thursday: Enduring Love in Suffering
Reading: Romans 8:35-39, 1 Peter 1:3-9
Scripture:
Romans 8:35-39 (ESV)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
God’s love is unchanging and unshakable, even in the midst of trials, suffering, and uncertainty. Paul’s words in Romans 8 declare that nothing—not hardship, persecution, or even death—can separate us from Christ’s love.
In 1 Peter 1, we see that suffering is not meaningless. God uses trials to refine our faith and deepen our dependence on Him. Just as gold is purified through fire, our struggles can strengthen our trust in God and make our faith more genuine.
Think about a time when you faced difficulty. Did you experience God’s love in a new way? Often, it is in suffering that we encounter the depths of His love most profoundly. If you are facing trials today, cling to the truth that God’s love is constant and victorious.
If you are struggling, hold onto Romans 8:35-39 as a promise that God’s love remains unshaken.
Reach out to someone going through a hard season—offer encouragement, prayer, or practical support. Love in action brings hope.
Instead of asking, “Why is this happening?”, ask, “How is God shaping my faith through this?”
Prayer:
Father, thank You for a love that never fails, even in the hardest seasons of life. When I walk through trials, remind me that Your love is my anchor. Strengthen my faith and help me trust in Your purpose. Use me to encourage others who are struggling, so that they, too, may see the power of Your enduring love. Amen.
Friday: Love as Our Witness
Reading: John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-12
Scripture:
John 13:34-35 (ESV)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 John 4:7-12 (ESV)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
Jesus declared that our love for one another is the greatest evidence of our faith. The world will not recognize us by how much we know, how often we attend church, or how spiritual we appear—but by how we love.
John expands on this in 1 John 4, reminding us that love originates from God. When we love one another, we reveal His presence to the world. In fact, 1 John 4:12 states that though no one has seen God, our love makes Him visible.
Does the way you love others point people to Jesus? Are you known for grace, kindness, patience, and forgiveness, or for division, criticism, and indifference? As a believer, you are a walking testimony of Christ’s love.
Reflect: If someone observed how you love others, what would they learn about God?
Be intentional: Look for an opportunity today to love someone sacrificially—whether through an act of kindness, a word of encouragement, or reconciling a strained relationship.
Pray for a renewed commitment to love within your faith community. Let love be a visible testimony of the power of Christ in your life.
Prayer:
Lord, let my love be a reflection of You. Help me to love in a way that draws others to You. May my actions and words be a testimony of Your transforming power. Teach me to love deeply, forgive freely, and serve humbly. Let my love shine so brightly that others see You through me. Amen.