How Biblical Love Prevails in Its Full Expression

Look at these examples about how biblical love prevails in full expression. This is seen in the Christian’s prime example: God. He wants this for you too. [This is part of the How Biblical Love Prevails Series.]


In the introduction to this series, I shared with you that we will look at how biblical love prevails beginning with our source and prime example: God. He set the foundation with how He loves us.

If you and I are going to love as Jesus does, then let’s start gleaning from God in a mentorship fashion.

So I’m going to start from the beginning, and share with you many truths about God’s love that you’ve probably heard before. But I’m asking you to join me in looking at these examples as to how biblical love can prevail in full expression—in us.

How Biblical Love Prevails in Full Expression When You See It in God

God created the world and you because He wanted someone to share it with. He wanted to bless man and gave man the responsibility of caring for a beautiful garden.

Unfortunately, man messed it up when he sinned. But God didn’t want that to sever His relationship with all of mankind—including you. So He had (and still has) a plan.

He sent Jesus (His only begotten son) to die in your place. This gift is the essence of God’s immeasurable love for you.

Jesus told parables, which were designed to demonstrate wonderful truths (such as the depth of God’s love). But those short allegorical stories need interpreting. When I read one, sometimes I get it, but sometimes I need to study it to find the gold. 

I studied the parable of the hidden treasure for hours one day. And maaan, when I got the revelation of it, I bawled like a baby. I was thinking, “God loves me, like that?? Whoa…”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44 NKJV

It wasn’t what I first thought. I thought it was an example of how much to seek out the kingdom of heaven. Don’t get me wrong, we should seek first the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 6:33). 

But there’s so much more love that comes from this mind blowing parable. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I explained in another post how much God loves you from this one verse alone

God’s in It for Eternity

God did all this because He wants you with Him for eternity. Yet He doesn’t control you—the choice is yours.

But God went through these extraordinary lengths so you could be in His family. So when you say yes, and receive His salvation, do you know what He thinks of you?

He doesn’t see you as some sinner who doesn’t have it together yet, but His righteous child who is growing in faith (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:26; John 1:12).

And there’s more—this love just keeps on getting better:

  • God blessed you with an inheritance (Ephesians 2:6)
  • And eternity with Him (John 3:16)
  • He wants the best for you today (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20)
  • And He has big plans for you in His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10)
  • So He’s working on you to prepare you for your future (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:21)
  • And He will provide for you every step of the way (Psalm 23:1; 2 Corinthians 9:8)
But God went through these extraordinary lengths so you could be in His family. So when you say yes, and receive His salvation, do you know what He thinks of you? #LiveYielded  Click To Tweet

Favor from Your Good Shepherd (Psalm 23)

A shepherd before he was king, David penned the 23rd Psalm from a place of experience. He knew about the defenselessness of sheep and how they will only trust a familiar voice. 

When I’m treading unfamiliar territory, feeling weary, lost, or afraid, sometimes I visualize the beautiful analogy in Psalm 23 of the Lord being my Shepherd. Thinking about this satisfying analogy brings peace to my heart.

It takes me to my happy place, if you will. Maybe that’s because my first recollection of this Psalm is from my childhood; it’s one of the first passages of Scripture I committed to memory as a kid.

When you study Psalm 23, each line implies the favor you receive from the Lord as your Shepherd. You could probably put more than one word after each one, as it’s so rich, but this is what I got out of it. 

I suggest reading the below aloud. After digesting it, you will probably be filled with a sweet satisfaction that only He can give!

Implied Favor from the 23rd Psalm

  • The LORD is my shepherd → connection with me
  • I have all that I need → provision for me
  • He lets me rest in green meadows → comfort for me
  • He leads me beside peaceful streams → peace for me
  • He renews my strength → restoration for me
  • He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name → direction for me
  • Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid → guidance for me
  • For you are close beside me → relationship with me
  • Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me → mentorship for me
  • You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies → nourishment for me
  • *You honor me by anointing my head with oil → protection for me
  • My cup overflows with blessings → abundance for me
  • Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life → faithfulness for me
  • and I will live in the house of the LORD forever → security for me

*Oil poured on a sheep’s head acted as a bug repellent.

God loves you so much that it prevails in every single area of your life!

God loves you so much that it prevails in every single area of your life! #LiveYielded #ThrivingInChrist Click To Tweet

And I don’t know about you, but when I understand more of how God loves me, it makes me love Him more. It makes me want to share more of His love with the world! 

How Biblical Love Prevails in Full Expression in You

In the meantime, He commands you to love. Read this passage slowly:

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 

This is real love–not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:7-12 NLT (emphasis mine)

How I view God, and how I believe that God views man, completely affects how I treat others. The more I understand how God loves and sees man—the leaving the 99 kind of way—then I know that He views me and everybody else that way. When I have a revelation of God’s love, then I can have compassion for the plight of others.

— Justin D. Baker

Reading that passage and the above quote tells me this:

God came to you, walks with you, and wants to love through you. If God lives inside you and wants to love through you, then it takes living yielded to His Spirit to see it happen. 

God came to you, walks with you, and wants to love through you. If God lives inside you and wants to love through you, then it takes living yielded to His Spirit to see it happen. #LiveYielded Click To Tweet

And that is how biblical love prevails in full expression. 


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10 Comments

  1. This was a fabulous study! I looked up the passages in multiple translations and gleaned more understanding through them and your insightful words. The truths about God wanting us to have a fulfilling life is what I needed to balance all the suffering in this life, and the Bible verses about expecting suffering. Thank you for this study, Kelly!

    1. kellyrbaker says:

      I’m so glad it encouraged you, Kim! Thanks for saying so! And you’re welcome 🙂

  2. I see clearly how our identity in Christ is gift wrapped in God’s love.

    Thank you for sharing and encouraging us to dig deeper in His Word!

    1. kellyrbaker says:

      He is so good! Thanks for stopping by, Sue!

  3. Great post! The study is well written and very relatable. God Bless and Thank you for sharing.

    1. kellyrbaker says:

      I appreciate your kind comment, Stephanie! God bless you as well!

  4. What beautiful encouragement for my heart this morning! Meditating on God’s love for me, blesses me, comforts me, strengthens me and fills my heart with gratitude that He wanted ME to be His child! Amen! Hallelujah!!

    1. kellyrbaker says:

      He is so good! Thanks for your visit, April! Have a great week!

  5. God’s love for us is wayyyy better than any box of Valentine’s chocolates :). Whenever I feel down on myself, I can always find expressions of God’s love for me in the Bible. I love your graphic on Psalm 23–I’ve never thought of these being ‘implied favors’ before.

    1. kellyrbaker says:

      Psalm 23 is like His box of Valentines for us! 😉

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