Love is the most important theme in the Bible, reflecting the character of God and instructing believers how to live. Here are 25 of the best Bible verses on love!
1) 1 John 4:16
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
2) 1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
10) Matthew 22:37-39
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
12) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.”
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
18) 1 John 4:7
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”
22) Leviticus 19:18
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
This content may contain affiliate links. All quoted scripture in the New International Version.
Here are 8 things to remember when anxiety hits:
1) You only have to do today
Often, when we are anxious, it’s either about some future thing we’re dreading or a past event we can’t change. But God doesn’t want us living in tomorrow or yesterday – He wants us living in today.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
As tornados spin and fires burn; while our family members spiral in addictions, God promises He will not let us drown in our troubles.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
No where in the Bible does God tell us to go it alone. He gave us His spirit, our family and friends, our church fellowships, as well as health care and medicine. We have both supernatural help in His word and power and earthly sources of help available.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
As the Bible explains, fear brings torment, described as “extreme pain or anguish of body or mind” by Merriam-Webster’s definition. Human tendency is to attempt to alleviate pain if it occurs. However, abusing drugs and alcohol or turning to dopamine-inducing behaviours like gambling and porn is causing millions of people worldwide additional harm.
“’I have the right to do anything’, you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive.” 1 Corinthians 10:23
Contact with nature is associated with positive benefits including more happiness, a better sense of well-being and lower mental distress, according to a report by the American Psychological Association.
“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Psalm 96:12
If you want to cut off the negative thought train in its tracks, find a good scripture to meditate on.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
There is almost nothing good reported in the news and social media can exacerbate anxiety. A better option could be to shut the screens off and turn the tunes up. Studies show music can elevate mood and reduce anxiety and depression. Maybe even better, we can pick up our Bible and read some verses aloud, forcing our minds off the dark thoughts and onto the light of Jesus Christ.
“ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Whatever trouble is pushing its way through the door, it’s only temporary. Our Lord and Savior is about to return – guaranteed. Those of us who are Chosen will then enter a blissful eternity with the King of Kings, leaving all earthly miseries permanently behind.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Quoted scriptures are from the New International Version translation.
Here are 7 times God told His people “do not be afraid” in scripture:
1. Genesis 15:1
Abram was concerned that though his estate was large, he had no heir. A servant in his house would end up inheriting everything, to Abram’s great dismay. God then speaks to Abram in a vision.
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
God lays out the famous promise that Abram would have an heir of his own flesh, and that his offspring would one day be as innumerable as the stars in the sky.
Addressed to the Israelites in exile, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah, reminding His people that He is in control and His powerful arms are wrapped around them.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
3. Joshua 1:9
About to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, Joshua is full of fear. God reassures him of His continual presence.
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Jesus is preparing the disciples to send them out into the world to spread the gospel. He warns them that persecution will come. But Jesus says people should not fear each other – they should fear God in reverence of His eternal power.
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
5. John 14:27
While the peace and security the world offers comes from money and status, which can be wiped away in a day, our Lord offers us his own supernational peace that no type of earthly destruction can erase.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Moses had become old and learned from God that he would not cross over to the Promised Land with the Israelites. They would have to trust that God, along with their new leader Joshua, would be there to protect them as they headed into a land full of enemies.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
7. Isaiah 43:1
In another message of comfort from God to the Israelites, the Lord emphasizes that He has chosen them, made them His personal possession, and subjects of His divine protection.
“But now this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
God commands His people to forgive one another, while providing the blood of His only son for the forgiveness of our sins. Throughout scripture, God shows us that forgiveness is critical to unlocking His power and opening the doors to His kingdom. But it’s not just our eternal welfare at stake. Let’s take a look at four times the Bible clearly links forgiveness of sins and the release of healing power in people’s lives:
Psalm 103:2-3: “Praise the Lord, my soul; and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
In this psalm, David commands his soul to remember that God forgives and heals. He praises God for human redemption through His love and mercy; His power to renew strength inside a believer empowering people to prosper.
Isaiah 53:5: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”
This profound prophecy points to the painful punishment Jesus took to pay for the sins of all God’s people. For our sakes, and because of our “iniquities” or sins, Jesus’ body was tortured. He took our punishment, exchanging eternal torment for everlasting peace. But His wounds not only provided a way to Heaven – the crucifixion of Christ has also provided healing for us today.
James 5:14-16: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed.”
This promise emphasizes the power of communal prayer and faith in healing. It offers express instruction of who – the elders of the church – and how – by praying over the sick in the congregation, physically pouring oil over the ill. This instruction shows us that healing happens when sins are forgiven.
Mark 2:5: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son your sins are forgiven.”
The paralyzed man had some very good friends. Four of them, desperate to get their friend in front of Jesus, cut a hole in the roof of the room where Jesus was preaching. Jesus healed the paralytic because of the faith of his friends. As the religious teachers heard Jesus forgiving the man, they accused Him of blasphemy. Jesus schooled them,, saying in verse 9: “Which is easier: to say to this this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’”
In this exchange, Jesus shows us that forgiving sins and commanding healing flow together.
Jesus finished His argument by letting the religious teachers know He has authority to forgive sins, telling the paralytic to take his mat and go. With the forgiveness of sins and command of healing, the paralyzed man was healed in front of everyone.
