God = Love, Love = God
I study the Bible much like I studied literature by reading the historical context and trying to understand who the major characters are and what the theme of the Book is. I have a study Bible, so I also look back into other books if there is a reference to an event or a time period (past or future in regard to prophesies). I also look for comparisons. In studying the character of God, I came across a beautiful verse. God is Love (1 John 1:1) I immediately began studying Love. The most famous verse about love is used in weddings. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 reads,
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I as a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remains; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Since God is Love, God impressed upon me to replace the word Love with God. Watch how the beautiful, loving character of God is revealed. (I love the last sentence!)
God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these thee remains; faith, hope, and God. But the greatest of these is God.
The more time I spend in His Word, the more time I spend with Him because He is the Word (John 1:1)
The Word became Flesh:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it… He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-5, 10-14).
I have been married for 18 years. Yes, I got married at 18. I am now 36 (almost 37). I tell my husband, “I love you more every day.” It’s true. I really do. I am constantly discovering newness in who my husband is, in how he loves others and life, and it never gets old.
The other day we were discussing how amazed we are that we are both still so much in love with each other. We realized that Brian doesn’t think of a lot of the things I think about. When I ask him a question, he will say, “I honestly never thought about that….” And likewise, he is always telling me something that I never even knew about. It is as if we are constantly challenged and/or surprised by what the other has to offer regarding knowledge, insight, and perspective.
Now, don’t get me wrong, we’ve had our share of difficulties and disagreements, but we discovered that this underlying theme of discovering an unknown newness on a consistent basis is a key in the foundation of our love for each other. We also commit to understand or agree to disagree sometimes, but commitment is just as key to the foundation and core of our marriage as is the unknown newness.
Through studying the Word, which is the same as spending time with God because He is the Word, through trials and victories and God’s never-ending faithfulness and strength, His uniqueness, His commitment to me, and His eternal Love (God is Love) for me, I have found myself falling more in love with God every day as well. It’s a beautiful, intoxicating love story, and I realize that the mystery and commitment of God keeps my soul forever wanting more of Him. The intimacy of this truth: God=Love and Love=God is a never-ending circle of eternal discovery that I hope and pray to experience more and more every day. I hope and pray the same for you.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her website, https://kristinaseymour.com/. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.