What is Love? God Is Love.
“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Most people in the Western world have heard this section of scripture many times, particularly at weddings or romantic ceremonies. But what if the “Love Chapter” found in 1 Corinthians 13 isn’t about romantic relationships at all? What if its true purpose is to serve as a guide for spiritual maturity and divine connection?
The Apostle Paul, who authored this section of scripture, wasn’t writing a wedding manual—he was calling an entire spiritual community into alignment with a deeper, truer way of being. One that reflects the very nature of God.
Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” That’s a powerful and often overlooked statement. We often talk about God as omniscient or omnipotent, but here, love is not just something God does—love is what God is. It is the very nature of divinity.
Experiencing God through Love
When we begin our spiritual journey by centering love, we open ourselves to experiencing the divine in everyday life. Love is patient and kind—so if God is love, then God is patient and kind. That’s not just poetic—it’s transformative.
Albert Einstein once said, “The most important decision we can make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.” If we believe that God is love, then we can begin to see the universe as friendly. This shift in perception changes everything. It influences how we treat others, how we think about ourselves, and how we move through the world.
Understanding God as love also helps us dismantle harmful theological ideas. Theologies rooted in fear, shame, or exclusion don’t align with the God described in 1 Corinthians or 1 John. When we align with love, we align with truth.
Affirming Love as a Spiritual Practice
One of the most powerful things we can do is make love our spiritual practice. Turning Paul’s words into an affirmation helps us shift our consciousness:
I am patient and kind. I am not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. I release the idea that I always need my own way. I allow irritability to dissolve from my mind. I release all records of wrong; not rejoicing in wrongdoing but rejoicing in the Truth. I bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.
This is not about being perfect or passive. Practicing love does not mean tolerating harm or erasing boundaries. Asking, “What would love do?” sometimes means walking away, speaking up, or refusing to allow harm to continue. Love never does harm to others, and it does not allow others to harm us.
The Superiority of Love
Paul emphasizes that love is greater than spiritual gifts like tongues, prophecy, or even faith. That’s a bold claim. He writes:
“If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have prophetic powers, understand all mysteries and knowledge, and have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and hand over my body but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
In positive Christianity and New Thought teachings, we often explore ideas like divine intelligence, spiritual laws, and personal empowerment. All of these are important, but without love, they’re incomplete. Love is the glue that holds it all together—the divine force that animates our practices and gives them meaning.
Paul even says that these other elements—prophecy, tongues, knowledge—will eventually pass away. They are tools for our journey, but they are not the destination. Love is the destination. It never ends.
Love & Evolving Consciousness
Paul describes this beautifully with a metaphor of growing up:
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.”
Our spiritual development mirrors human development. Just as children must crawl before they walk, we move through stages in our understanding of divinity. At each stage, love is there, expanding with us.
Whatever stage you’re at right now is sacred. Don’t rush through it. Love is not only the ultimate goal but the power that supports you at every stage of your journey.
A Story of Love in Action
A few years ago, I was volunteering at a shelter and mentioned my husband in passing. I immediately sensed hostility from another volunteer. I’m highly sensitive, and I could feel her energy shift. I silently repeated one of my favorite affirmations: “I love you. I love you. I love you.” I imagined that love as a radiant light flowing from the divine within me toward her.
About an hour later, she came up to me with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “When I first saw you, the devil lied to me and said you didn’t deserve to exist.” Let’s keep in mind, she never said anything to me prior to her apology, but being sensitive, I felt it anyway. So, I was not the least bit surprised when she approached me. However, I had already established loving presence in my own mind toward her.
I replied, “You were already forgiven. But next time, remember: Jesus said the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44), and scripture tells us that God is love. So any thought that is unkind or unloving isn’t from God.”
I never saw her again, but I know something changed in her that day. Sometimes, people just need to experience love—pure, nonjudgmental, radiant love—from someone they weren’t expecting. Love never fails.
The Greatest of These is Love
Paul concludes the Love Chapter by naming the three eternal aspects of the spiritual life: faith, hope, and love. Then he says, “The greatest of these is love.”
Jesus once said that even a mustard seed of faith can move mountains. So what could just a mustard seed of love do? I believe it could transform the world.
God is Love & So Are We
If God is love, and we are made in the image and likeness of God, then we are made in the image and likeness of love. That’s not just a theological statement—that’s a radical invitation to embody love in every part of our lives.
In a world so often marked by division and fear, choosing to love is a revolutionary act. It’s a spiritual practice, a lifestyle, and a path to divine connection. Love is not only how we know God—it’s how we become more fully ourselves.
Love is the force that unites us. It is the One Presence and One Power moving through all creation. When we love, we align ourselves with that Presence. When we love, we know God.
About Folx with Faith
At Folx with Faith, we recognize that wisdom and discernment are essential tools in navigating our spiritual paths. Judgment, when guided by divine wisdom, allows us to make choices rooted in love, justice, and truth. As a community, we are committed to creating spaces where individuals can explore their spiritual power, deepen their faith, and cultivate inner discernment. By engaging in collective reflection, honoring diverse perspectives, and supporting one another, we strengthen our ability to make spiritually aligned decisions that uplift both ourselves and our communities.
Join us as we continue to explore the Twelve Powers, affirming our divine nature and walking forward with clarity and purpose.
How You Can Support Our Mission?
You can help us fulfill our mission by donating to Folx with Faith or starting a local group. It is our mission to create safe spaces to explore and experience spiritual wholeness. Folx with Faith supports the queer community, fostering a celebration of our authentic beings and empowering us to make a difference in the world. If you would like to contribute to this mission or would like to start a local chapter, please let us know. You can contact us or use the links below.
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