We can find many love stories throughout the Bible where a love for someone other than themselves is displayed. As you read the stories I have selected may you find yourself encouraged when you too are required to demonstrate that real love!
King Ahasuerus / Queen Esther Esther 8:5-7 TLB
She said, “If it please Your Majesty, and if you love me, send out a decree reversing Haman’s order to destroy the Jews throughout the king’s provinces. For how can I endure it, to see my people butchered and destroyed?” Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “I have given Esther the palace of Haman, and he has been hanged upon the gallows because he tried to destroy you.
Esther's love for her people caused her to step out in faith and speak on their behalf, even if meant that she would lose her own life.
Because of the King’s love for Esther he chose to not only listen to her but also to save her people!
Naomi / Ruth Ruth 4:14-15 TLB
And the women of the city said to Naomi, “Bless the Lord who has given you this little grandson; may he be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and take care of you in your old age; for he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you so much, and who has been kinder to you than seven sons!”
Here we see the love between a mother in-law and daughter in- law who were in a desperate situation.
Ruth’s love for Naomi caused her to accept her God and follow her back to her homeland.
Because Ruth listened and stepped out faith, God blessed them both!
Abraham / Isaac Genesis 22:16-17 TLB
Later on, God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes, Lord?” he replied. “Take with you your only son—yes, Isaac whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I’ll point out to you!” Genesis 22:1-2 TLB
“I, the Lord, have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. Abraham was tested by God to sacrifice the son he loved so much,
He was willing to obey God even though he loved his son whom God had promised.
Abraham’s demonstration of love for God caused him to inherit the promise!
These are just a few examples of those who demonstrated their love by actions.
It goes to show that love is much more powerful than mere words which are lightly spoken, but by action that is demonstrated!
1 John 3:18 AMP
Little children (believe rs, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].
Let’s not make it a habit of using the word “love” lightly because someone may be relying on you to come through for them in demonstration! It could it be: God, Spouse, Children, or Friend!