“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor. 13:13. Let us have a look at what love actually is. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10. Love, the love of God, is not manifested by our love for God, but by God’s love for us, we who opposed Him. For if we love those who love us, what reward do we have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Matt. 5:46. We can also say it as follows: In this is my love, not that others have loved me, but that I have loved the others and have laid down my life for them. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Matt. 24:12. When we can counter unrighteousness with an even warmer love, we possess the love of God and of Christ. “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” Song of Sol. 8:7. Adversities and trials cannot quench our love for God and others. That is the nature of love that cannot be mistaken. We are to live and work in this love, and in this love it is possible to be pleasing to God and to Jesus Christ. No matter what we do—even if our intentions are ever so good—if we do not have love, we are nothing, and what we do is worthless before God. We love because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19. When I have to deal with another person, demanding that he love me, I am far from the truth and lacking love. We must realize that love is manifested when we love first, and by loving first, we become like Jesus. Read and reflect on 1 John 4:17-19 and Matthew 5:39-48. If we do not love the person who loves us, we have good reason to judge ourselves and revise our manner of worship. If we think that what it says in the Scriptures about love is impossible and unreasonable, it is because we do not love. The one who does not love abides in death. 1 John 3:14. “Pursue love . . . .” 1 Cor. 14:1. You, who are content with human love, pursue the love of Jesus Christ; and you who have received some of this blessed love, pursue it more diligently!Andreas Nilsen