When comparing your love to God’s definition

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NIV) 

Agape love: Agape is the term that defines God's immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is his ongoing, outgoing, self-sacrificing concern for lost and fallen people. God gives this love without condition, unreservedly to those who are undeserving and inferior to himself.

The greatest kind of love

The greatest kind of love is called  Agape love, which expresses itself in loving action toward others. God demonstrated it by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us to provide the free gift of eternal life for all who will believe (John 3:16-17). This kind of love is a new commandment given by Jesus and is how people will be recognized as His followers.  

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

Measure your love by comparing it to God’s love definition...

• Love is kind 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Cor. 13:4)

• Love is not self-seeking

“ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:5)

• Love always rejoices in truth

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Cor. 13:6 NIV)

•  Love always perseveres

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  (1 Cor. 13:7 NIV)

• Love never fails

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Cor. 13:8 NIV)

Therefore...

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13 NIV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV)

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor. 16:14 ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Quote:

“In the New Testament, love is more of a verb than a noun. It has more to do with acting than with feeling. The call to love is not so much a call to a certain state of feeling as it is to a quality of action.” - R. C. Sproul