Jesus said something very prophetic that speaks to the times we live in today, when the disciples asked Him as He went to Jerusalem the last time, “What will be the signs of your coming and the end of the age” (Matthew 24:3-18). In His reply, He reveals something that we see going on all around us today.
- Matthew 24:11-13 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
He did not say that some people’s love will grow cold, but “most people’s love will grow cold.”
We seem to be living in that time. A flood of partisan media and social platforms stir constant outrage, what some call “anger porn.” These only fuel division, hatred, and distract from God’s main thing: love. Every time we are tempted to react in the fleshly impulses of anger and hatred, we must “put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit” (Romans 8:13).
Peter, who heard Jesus’ warning firsthand, echoed it later:
- 1 Peter 4:7–8 The end of all things is near… Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Love is the Most Important Thing
Once, a prophetic leader told me as I was talking about the importance of relational life rooted in God’s love, “We’ve heard enough about relationships and love. Let’s get on with the Kingdom.” I was surprised, and I immediately thought of the only dialogue Jesus had with all the major religious factions of His day in one setting (Chief priests, Scribes, Elders, Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees) in Mark 11:27-12:34. They were all trying to trip Him up so He would be disqualified in the eyes of the people who were putting hope in Him. Jesus countered all their traps with God’s wisdom that shut their mouths.
One of the scribes who was listening to this was amazed at the wisdom that Jesus demonstrated and approached Him with a sincere question, “What is the most important commandment we are to obey?” Understand that this scribe would know from memory the 613 direct commandments in the Old Testament, but also the over 7000 applications of these commands in the Torah. It was so complicated to please God because no one could consistently do all those things.
Jesus answered Him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). When this revelation hit the Scribe, he responded amazingly, “Right, teacher, those two things are much more important than the burnt offerings and sacrifices!”
When Jesus observed that the scribe was seeing that revelation from God, He added, “You are not far from the Kingdom!” LOVE IS AT THE HEART OF GOD’S KINGDOM!
I also thought of the historical account from the great church father Jerome (347–420 AD) in his commentary on Galatians 6:10, regarding the Apostle John’s last days in Ephesus. John consistently emphasized the issue of love because of the heresies that were arising in that day.
- “The blessed John the Evangelist lived in Ephesus until extreme old age. His disciples could barely carry him to church, and he could not muster the voice to speak many words. During individual gatherings, he usually said nothing but, ‘Little children, love one another.’ The disciples and brothers in attendance grew tired of hearing the same thing over and over, and finally said, ‘Teacher, why do you always say this?’ He replied with a line worthy of John: ‘Because it is the Lord’s command, and if it alone is kept, it is sufficient.’”
Four Important Things All Christians Pursue
Just as in the time of Jesus, we have religious factions (groups, churches, denominations, etc.) that have certain emphases they pursue more diligently than others. Part of it is the revelation they carry and what they think is most important. Paul addresses a main problem with this in 1 Corinthians 13 by listing four powerful spiritual pursuits all of Christendom values, then DECLARES THEM WORTHLESS WITHOUT LOVE!
Anointed Speech/Preaching, etc.
“If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong.” (v.1)
Eloquence or anointing means nothing without love, yet how many Christians are attracted to and taken up with such speaking?
Prophetic Revelation & Knowledge
“If I have prophecy, understand all mysteries… but have not love, I am nothing.” (v.2)
Prophetic insight and power without love has no eternal value.
Mountain-Moving Faith
“If I have all faith to move mountains… but have not love, I am nothing” (v.2).
Moving in supernatural power by faith, while important, without love, is useless.
Extreme Sacrifice
“If I give all I have… surrender my body… but have not love, it profits me nothing” (v.3).
Many in monastic-type movements living in extreme sacrifice need to realize that love needs to be preeminent. Sacrifice without love gains nothing in God’s eyes.
Love is the lifeblood of our faith and God’s Kingdom. Love isn’t a side issue. It’s the essence of Christian life. Without love, the most impressive gifts and sacrifices mean nothing. Jesus said, “By this all will know you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
Three Essential Elements to Walk in God’s Love
1. Experience and walk in the New Birth (Born again), which brings God’s love within us.
Love is part of God’s nature. It comes from the Spirit when we are born again.
- Romans 5:5 God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
- 1 John 4:7 Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
2. Put to Death the Flesh by Holy Spirit.
Our corrupt nature resists love and tries to motivate us to react to things in non-loving, sinful ways. We must deny corrupt motivations daily through the Spirit and take steps of love over and above them.
- Romans 8:13 By the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the flesh.
- 1 Peter 1:22 Love one another deeply from the heart.
3. Make God’s Definition of Love Your Greatest Aim.
Above all else, pursue love, God’s definition of love, not the world’s. Many have mistaken ideas about what love is. Some see it as a positive feeling or liking of someone or something. We cannot afford to confuse “like,” which is based on self, with “love,” which is based on God. The Bible clearly lays out what love is in relational life.
- 1Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, (6) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
- 1 Peter 4:7-8 The end of all things is near… (8) Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
- Colossians 3:14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Let’s keep God’s main thing our main thing: Love.
Without it, all our gifts, knowledge, faith, power, and sacrifice mean nothing.
With it, we reveal the heart, life, and message of Jesus to a world desperate to see it.