"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (I John 4:7-8)
Knowing God is a continual process. The better I know God, the more loving I can become as I yield to Christ Who is living in me.
I have all the power to love already IN ME. Knowing and understanding God more and more causes the natural effect of my loving others even more than I ever thought possible--even unlovable people, unkind people, or people who don't love me back.
My love for others is not my love... it's Christ's love in me. The love I show indicates that I am "born of God" (saved), but also that I KNOW God on an intimate level... not just "believing IN God." "Believing God" is different than "Believing IN God."
So if I find myself unloving, I don't need to beat myself up and "try harder to love." I need to get to KNOW HIM more. HE is love.
Knowing You, Jesus Graham Kendrick All I once held dear, built my life upon, All this world reveres and wars to own; All I once thought gain I have counted loss, Spent and worthless now compared to this: Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, And I love You, Lord. Now my heart's desire is to know You more, To be found in You and know as Yours; To possess by faith what I could not earn, All surpassing gift of righteousness. Oh to know the power of Your risen life, And to know You in Your sufferings; To become like You in Your death, my Lord, So with You to live and never die.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.