The Love of God is unique. Music of love is amazing. This love has a distinct characteristic than anything else we can see in this world. If you are a believer in Christ, you already have this Agape (Greek) unconditional, sacrificing love of God in your heart poured by the Holy Spirit. It is with this love with which you love God, yourself and your neighbor. However, Apostle John in his first letter, while he uses the concept of 'love' fifty times, introduces an interesting principle : "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:16-18) The love of God, which is perfect in itself, is being perfected in us. How does such a thing take place? What is our contribution in that work? Many people have a false notion regarding the word 'perfect.' Religious, legalistic, works oriented interpretation of this word produces a striving sense trying to become more holy and spiritual. Following verses spoken by Jesus Himself through much light on this principle. 'Perfect' in the Bible often refers to maturity and fulfillment of intended design. "You have heard that it has been said, You shalt love your neighbour, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48) If we read carefully, it is easy to understand that no one can ever aspire to be equal in holiness and perfection to God the Father. However, when Jesus tells us to 'be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect', He is making a clear allusion to God's nature of love towards even His enemies. This is what it means for the love to be perfected in us. Imagine, God could have very easily designed a universe which would treat the saved and unsaved differently. But, in His love, He did not. When Christ died on the Cross, He loved the believer as well as the unbeliever both. He prayed to the Father regarding His persecutors, "Father, forgive them.." Many of us would imagine that we are asked to love some specific enemies of greater intensity and not apply this to subtle enemies which we fight everyday. I would like to point our minds to the words regarding them that 'curse,' 'despitefully use,' and 'hate' us. Don't we face them everywhere? Sometimes, more in our own minds than outside? There are those whose motives towards us may be doubtful to us. A person may ponder, "He hates me," "She is jealous of my success," "Did he really mean it when she said she is praying for me? or that was a way of starting to gossip?" "I wonder if they would be happy when I fall." Jesus tells us to love these enemies too. Pray for him. Do good to her. Bless them. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Apostle Paul introduces one of the most hallmark instructions regarding love of God with these words : "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing." In these verses Apostle gets to the point of playing down some very important Christian virtues - edifying speech, Biblical knowledge, faith and sacrifice, to exalt God's love. God's love stands alone. It cannot be produced by trying. It can neither be perfected by human efforts. Rather God's love is the bonafide source cause of all other Christian acts and virtues. Holy Spirit leads us to circumstances of perfecting His love in our hearts, wherein we are called to exercise that love towards the unlovable. God's perfected love leaves all fear, insecurity, uncertainty and negative feelings and looks for opportunity to manifest itself. It takes action sourced in itself. God's love plays its own music when all around there is another song. Let me explain this : In 1 Samuel 18, there is an interesting story. It is story of David and Jonathan's love. It's a story of love of God in David's life. David was hated by the king Saul. He had a threat on his life. Yet he chose to honour the king and obey him. The love was perfected in him. There is an interesting incident in this story : "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand." (v10) Saul became demon possessed. He was making a show of himself right in the middle of the house. He was singing (prophesying in Hebrew root means that too) and making a mockery of himself. He was so evil at moments that he threw javelin to kill David a few times. But here is what David did. He played the music. I desire to carry the picture with me. Whether the enemy is real or imaginary, we keep playing the music of love that is being perfected. Amen! PS - If you would like to enjoy a thought provoking spirituality quiz, then jump to our fun quiz page. You may also watch our YouTube videos. What about learning about life after death?