Love by definition, has to have an object. You cannot express love without having a “target” for it. Our target is people. If we are not loving people then we are not walking in God, and we are not abiding in Jesus.

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8

“And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

For some of us, this is harder than others. The enemy (Satan) tries to make us, especially men, afraid to love. The devil wants us to think, that showing love is to show weakness. Some of you perhaps grew up in a home where it was considered unmanly to show affection. You never kissed. You never hugged. You never said, “I love you.” But, I want to encourage you through the example of Jesus, Who often spoke about and showed His love for others.

Jesus wept at Lazarus’ grave: John 11:35
Jesus speaks of His love: John 13:34
Jesus washes disciples’ feet: John 13:12
Jesus shows compassion: Matthew 9:36, and 14:14
Jesus weeps for Jerusalem: Luke 19:41
Jesus at Passover with John: John 13:23

Jesus, the Creator of the world, the One who bound Satan, the One who holds the keys to death and Hades, the One who rose from the grave, conquered death, conquered the devil, ascended to heaven, sits in heaven now at the Father’s right hand reigning over everything, He is the most masculine being in the universe and beloved—He loves.

Men, I want to encourage you to break out of the devil’s false reality that it is unmanly to love. We need to be able to tell and show people that we love them. We need to be able to tell our brothers and sisters—“I love you.” We need to be able to express affection to people, because, to not be able to do this, actually makes us weak.

Paul said,
“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people.”
1 Thessalonians 3:12

God is an expansive being, Whose love never ends. Those that are in Him and those that want to abide in Him, their love needs to keep growing.
Beloved, we all, men and women alike, need to become a “River of Love” to everyone around us.