2 John 1:6 (ESV)
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
This is what I wrote in 2009 about this verse:
Love is based upon an inward dwelling of the Son and the outward practice of fulfilling His Word. We can only love because Christ is in us and we can only practice that love if we know what He said. Practicing love on a day to day effort can be tough. When we get offended, hurt or slighted it is easy to know what to do but our feelings still don't seem to change. But, as we submit to Him and practice His Word, His love will eventually find its way into practice. But, we must have His truth inside and be committed to practice His Word.
In 2025:
Love is not a feeling of emotion based upon John’s above definition. Love is an act of obedience toward God. It might be an interesting test to ask someone, which is better:
1. That I love you because I feel like loving you?
2. That I love you because I am obeying God?
Which is a more powerful love? Out of emotion or out of obedience? There doesn’t need to be a choice, I suppose. However, if I love out of emotion, what happens when you hurt me and my emotions change? Emotions do change based upon situations and circumstances. If I love you out of obedience to God situations and circumstances would not apply because I am loving you out of a sense of duty and loyalty to God, not you. Since love is a fruit of the Spirit, real love is based upon allowing the Spirit of God to produce it in our lives. The only way the Spirit of God produces love in us is if we are walking in faithful obedience to Him. Loving out of emotion is not wrong. But it is not sustainable and it is not what God commanded. He commanded a love that is based upon faith in Him and His providing it to those who walk in obedience to Him.
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