Colossians 3:14

Love speaks to both action and motivation.

• “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, …(John 3:16).” That is God looking out for us and making a sacrifice for us. Action: giving his son. Motivation: So we would not perish.

• This is the way John said it: if you see your brother in need and you only tell him to go and be well, he questions your claim of love (1 John 3:17-18). He said that your love should not be in words, but in deed. When we equate love with good feeling or wishes, we may be missing the point. Action: giving stuffs; Motivation: heart of compassion.

• When Jesus asked Peter: Do you love me? He was not asking about how he feels at that time, based on with the bread and fish that Jesus had provided (John 21). His love for the Christ represents his bond to him and that is beyond good feeling. His love for Christ means Peter would commit to helping the people Jesus died for. If you love me feed my sheep, Jesus told Peter (John 21:15-17). Action: feeding the sheep. Motivation: to please Christ.

The perfect bond

In the chapter of about love (1 Corinthians 13), Paul said that in the absence of love, there is a problem. There is emptiness.

He was emphasizing motivation and disposition. He listed actions that would be commendable in the sight of men, but since God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), the motivation is much more important to him than the outward display.

The motivation gives meaning to the action in God’s eyes.

That is why at salvation God replaces our heart of stone with the heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) and we can feel what he feels (motivation) and act the way he acts, because God is love.

Love as the perfect bond means when love wraps something, in the eyes of men they might things it is deficient, but it is perfect in God’s eyes.

That is why the book of proverbs says that it is better to eat vegetables in a house with love, than have a fat cow with hatred (Proverbs 15:17). That is showing you how God sees things, with love trumping everything.

The vegetable is a perfect meal with love, while the abundance is empty without love.

Love means there is a bond. Note that what Paul is sharing here is believers’ connection one to another. This is serious issue and he goes on for several verses concerning it.

In various contexts, love is contrasted with different things: coldness, hatred, etc. But we have it clear that love is the absence of animosity, but the presence of some actions also.

There is a passive (motivation, disposition) and active (action) part of love.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul contrasts love with impatience, not being kind, envy, bragging, puffed up, rudeness, self-serving, easily angered, resentful, glad with injustice.

Love is always a factor in the multitude of circumstances. It should be the fuel that powers your life.

Back to Peter

What would be Peter's motivation to feed the flock? It was not to make money, it was not to be rich and famous, not to be seen as mighty and powerful, rather he would motivated by the words of Jesus, “if you love me feed my sheep.” That and only that.

And we have been called to serve one another for Christ's sake just like Peter (1 Peter 4:10).

You have to use your gift. Don't be like Peter who “ran away” from identifying with Jesus because of danger (Mark 14:66-72).

Peter is meant to wade through danger to continue to teach the people of God even at the risk of death (he saw Jesus die). He cannot run and hide, he cannot abandon the church, he had to keep on keeping on, motivated by his love for Christ.

Paul recognized that people can have different motivations in the name of God. They can be motivated by envy, but the right motivation is love, love for Christ means you want to push forward his interest on the earth.

God is love means God should be our motivation.

Love is a decision, a motivation, action, disposition, fuel, the eye you use to see others, compassion; God is love. Love is the perfect bond. Things can be changing, but love should be a constant.