The virtue of love receives a priority in Scripture. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 John 4:8 says that “God is love.” One of the key illustrations of biblical love is found in John 13. On the night before His crucifixion, “having loved his own who were in the world,” Jesus laid aside His outer garment and washed His disciples' feet. On any other night, such a task would have been done by a slave. However, Jesus washed the disciples' feet to teach them an important lesson before His death. He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you” (Jn 13:14-15).
In the same way, it is our priority at STBC to love and care for one another. This illustration teaches us that love is more than an emotion or attitude. Love is an action. Therefore, the love of God is manifested in the way we love through mutual encouragement, care, and service toward one another.