Godly Love, Foundational not Emotional: A 30 Day Devotional

by Charles Yerkes

Jesus makes a big claim about love: that it is the basis for all the teachings in the Bible. Unless Jesus is a liar, then love is the basis, the foundation upon which all other biblical teaching stands. So, it is vital that we understand what love actually is and how it can serve as this foundation. The purpose of this devotional book is to explore this over the next thirty days. It is my prayer that, as you explore this, you will grow stronger in your faith, in your relationship with God.

This book is divided into three parts. The first is: Love’s Importance, The Firm Foundation. Here, we will consider what love is and what it is not, and we’ll even come up with a good working definition of love that will help us better understand how it is the basis for all biblical teaching. In the second, Building On This Firm Foundation, we will begin to explore some of the ways Bible teaching is built on this foundation. Then, in the third, Love, Some Practicalities, we will look at some specific teachings about how we are to conduct ourselves and explore how these, too, are based on love.

Before diving into this, it is important to take note of a couple of things. The first is that this devotional series is not meant to be a thoroughly exhaustive exploration of this topic. In the format of brief, daily devotionals, there is no space to do so. But it is hoped that these will inspire further investigation on your part.

That you will be encouraged to ask God for wisdom concerning this and the Holy Spirit for guidance as you ponder this. And that this will lead you to grow in your relationship with him as never before.

The second thing to note is my use of Scripture in these devotions. The passages selected are selected to show that, in the context of what is being said in each passage, love is foundational to what is being said. It is not to change the meaning to be about love only, but to show that the meaning of that passage, in the context in which the passage finds itself, is based on love. The aim is to reveal what is present, so that we may gain a deeper, richer understanding of love. For I find today that our understanding of love is severely shallow.

For if Christianity is first and foremost about a relationship with the Father, through one with Jesus, and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit, then it is of utmost importance to understand what drives that relationship. As 1 John 4:8 says, “He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God.” And it is a plain, brute fact that you cannot be in a relationship with someone you do not know.

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