5 ways to live in love according to the Bible

Love is a big word people use all too often. However, real love is tough and we may be living without the love we  profess to have and share with one another. Luckily, we have the Scripture to remind us what true love looks like.

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (Catholic Online) - Crosswalk.com shared important verses from the Bible on how we would live in love amid our violent, materialistic world. God is love, which he has given us. What does that mean? Well, here are five kinds of love described in the Bible; love that Jesus shared during his time on earth that we should also share: 

1. Help those society views as weak
God has always been told us to help those less fortunate than ourselves. When we look to the Bible, we see that He treated children, women and all others considered weak or unequal with the most love. The Lord loved them as He loves us and we should follow His example. 
It was a woman Jesus chose to reveal himself to after his resurrection. The apostles couldn't believe it. The Bible tells us that the Lord also teaches us that his kingdom belongs to the innocent in Matthew 19:14: 
"Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
2. Give
Being generous doesn't only mean you should share material things. You can also be generous with your love. God taught us the value of simple acts of love, showing us that they go a long way when you share compassion, kindness and sincerity. If we help each other by freely giving our love, we are following His will as His children:
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
3. Be patient
Love is patient -and it should emanate with everything and everyone around us. This is like being generous, giving each other some of the grace we have from Him. Remember, we sin all the time and yet God continues to love us and accept us. His patience is deeper than any ocean. He has set the standard so high we can never reach it but that does not mean we shouldn't try: 
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
4. Forgive
Through acts of His love, we are forgiven. Others may hurt or anger us but we need to set aside our differences and pray for one another. We also need to pray that we can open our hearts enough to forgive. This does not mean forget but forgiving someone not only releases God's love to the one who wronged you, it also allows God's love to permeate your heart:
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).
5. Keep your promises
God keeps his promise, just look at the rainbow he leaves to remind us of His word? If the Lord keeps his promises, we should too. God lives in truth for in truth we have His love. Embody the words of Psalm 89:4: 
"I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips."
So go forth and live with love! If you don't know how, just read your Bible and pray that God teach you how to help strengthen the weak, how to give more of yourself, ask Him for patience and to teach you how to forgive. Pray that God help you keep the promises you make and to be  more careful with the words you say. We can never be perfect, but God can help us be better!

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