Love

Mark 12:30-31
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

I Corinthians 13:13
And abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

Love - a profoundly tender, passionate affection (fond attachment) for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection.

Love is what we are commanded to do. We are to have and demonstrate tender affection for one another. This emotion and action is easily given when we are loved in return or have a good, positive relationship with the other person.

Hebrews 13:16
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Sacrifice - to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else

If we love each other, why does the word refer to doing good as a sacrifice.
WARNING: This tender affection is to be given towards ALL. Yes, that even means those who are not loving towards us.

Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Loving in spite of is one sign that you are a Christian. Luke tells us that when we love our enemies we are children of the Highest. The only way we are able to love everyone in spite of is because of the Holy Spirit of God that is on the inside of us. As Tevin would say, "You should love all you can!" Be encouraged today to check your level of love and the conditions under which you give love. How do you know you are a Christian?