Love and Unity

Biblical love is far deeper than a love dependent merely on feelings and emotions.  Rather, it is a love that stems from the very soul and character of the individual.  It comes from the person's decision to love, not from his feelings.  In fact, many times the decision to love will run contrary to the feelings one possesses.  Biblical love  is the love of God that has been poured out into the heart, and then given from that heart to others.

This kind of love is the basis of unity as true unity does not come from a denial of differences, but from a forebearing with one another in spite of the differences.  It is the love that gives, that covers, that bears, that endures, that believes.  This is the love that overwhelmingly conquers.  This love then enables us to be united one with another, not due to a common cause, but because of a common love.

Ephesians 4:1-3

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk

in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, showing forebearance to one another

in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.