Matthew Henry, the renowned Bible commentator, once said, "Love is the very essence and life of the Christian religion." Do you agree with this? Why or why not? 
 
"In Aesop's Fables the wind and sun prepared to make a man shed his coat. The wind used its violence and force to tear off the coat, but the man only bound himself all the more within it. The sun gradually used its warmth on the man, and he voluntarily shed the coat himself. The gentle and gradual warmth of Christ's Love brings about change much more effectively than intimidation or force." - Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations 
 

"Booker T. Washington, one of the great American Black leaders, wrestled at one period in his life with the gross difficulties of forgiveness but found the path to victory. He said, 'When I saw the injuries and insults hurled against my people, I grew to hate white men. I hated them until my soul dried up. Then I took my hatred to Jesus Christ. He took the hatred out of my heart. He showed me how to forgive and how to love the white men.' That's the path to forgiveness, whether someone has snubbed you or hurt your business or killed your loved one. Stand at the foot of the cross, look to Him Who hangs there, ask Him to give you His Love." - Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations
 
Is there someone in your life whom you are having trouble forgiving?
You find it almost impossible to forgive such a one of so great offences that were committed against your home, marriage, job, ministry, or life in general.
At the foot of the Cross, Booker T. Washington exchanged his hatred for Christ's Love.
Perhaps you need to do the same. God will give you His Love for your offender.

1 Peter 4:8 tells us - "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves..." 
This Scripture shows the superiority of Love over anything else, by saying - "And above all things..."
 
Notice that the Apostle Peter did not say - "And above all things have...peace...joy...holiness..." although all of these are very important qualities in a Christian's walk.
 
1 Peter 4:8 tells us - "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves..." 
In other words, "...Above all things...,"  we are to have an intense, earnest, sincere, strong, and lasting Love for others.
 
It goes on to say - "...for CHARITY SHALL COVER THE MULTITUDE OF SINS."

Charity or Love -
...leads us to pass by the faults of others
...causes us to forgive people of any offences committed against ourselves
...causes us to cover, hide, or overlook a great number of their imperfections and faults insomuch that we or any one else can't notice them because we have concealed them.

1 Peter 1:22 tells us that "unfeigned love of the brethren" is the result of our souls being purified by "obeying the truth through the Spirit." Normally, there are lusts and partialities in our fleshly nature. As we yield to the Holy Spirit in obedience to His Word, He applies the Truth to our hearts and minds, resulting in Sincere Love.
 
Hebrews 3:7-8 - Many today are hardening their hearts to the voice of the Spirit - "...TO DAY IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS..." They resist His counsel,  quench His leading and guidance, and resultantly, are not sanctified by the Truth. They are defiled by their own Selfishness. They cannot and will not love any one but themselves.
 
1 Peter 1:22 - Just remember - He who has a pure heart will have no problem loving others "fervently." Those who have a problem doing so aren't free from their corrupt desires. They are yet unclean.
 
John 13:34 - The Lord Jesus told us - "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another..."

John 13:34 - What makes it a "new commandment" is the clause "as I have loved you."
Christ's love for us was demonstrated when He laid down His life for us while we were yet sinners. Hence, we are to lay down our lives for others - even our enemies - if need be.
Then and only then will we be loving as Christ loved us and obeying His  "new commandment" unto us. 
 
John 13:35 says - "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." The badge of Discipleship whereby others know that we are followers of Christ is our love for others. The disciples of various teachers were known by certain characteristics. Christ's disciples are known by one essential and distinctive mark - They love each another.

1 John 4:21 tells us - "And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." Our love for God can't be separated from our love for our brethren. When we love our brother, then and only then do we prove that we truly love God.
 
There is so much lip-service today among believers. Many confess that they love God. They sing and testify about it, yet they harbor bitterness, resentment, and malice in their hearts toward their brethren.
 
These things ought not so to be. Our evidence that we are true Christians is manifested whenever we love our brothers and sister in Christ. Then do we truly love God.
 
1 Thessalonians 3:12 says - "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you."
 
"Increase and abound in love." What a beautiful picture! Our love for others is likened unto a river that is overflowing - over its limits, superabounding, and exceeding all measures.
 
The Apostle Peter told us in 2 Peter 3:18 - "But grow in grace..." Love toward all men is a Grace that we must strive to "increase and abound" in.

 1 Peter 3:8 commands us to "...love as brethren..."
Hebrews 13:1 says - "Let brotherly love continue."  

May God Bless His Word.
Connie