Love

Jesus is the true Shepherd who searches out and finds his sheep among the scattered flock. His sheep know him, and they follow his voice. This video illustration demonstrates that our Savior is our Shepherd of Love during the Christmas season or any time of the year. Jesus Christ died on the cross and his substitutionary death brings the abundance of life to mankind.

Much has been spoken and written about love. The Greek word agape is often translated as love in the New Testament. Agape love is different from other types of love. Agape is the highest type of love and is unconditional. The essence of agape love is self-sacrifice. Agape is not used in the Bible to refer to romantic or sexual love, for which the Greek word eros is used. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used. Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.

Although I am focusing on agape love, this is not to degrade eros as sinful or impure. Romantic or sexual love is a gift of God to married couples to express their mutual love, strengthen their marital bond, and ensure the continued existence of humanity. The Song of Solomon is a whole book of the Bible that expresses the blessing of eros love. The thrill of eros love will wear off quickly without some phileo and agapao to go along with it. The weak point of eros love is understandable. Eros love is based more on self-benefit, rather than self-sacrifice. Eros love benefits you rather than the other person or God.

Agape is love which is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself. The best statement about love is the Great Commandment.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

All of The Ten Commandments are summarized in the Great Commandment. Love the Lord your God by 1. Not worshiping any other gods; 2. Not making any idols; 3. Not misusing the name of God; and 4. Keeping the Sabbath holy. Love your neighbor by 5. Honoring your father & mother; 6. Not murdering; 7. Not committing adultery; 8. Not stealing; 9. Not lying; and 10. Not coveting.

John summarizes agape love in the following Bible Verses:

“If you love me, keep my commands” John 14:15 (NIV) and

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. 2 John 1:6 (NIV)

Therefore, the most basic definition of love from the standpoint of God Himself involves knowing and keeping His commandments. We cannot love God with all our heart, mind, and soul until we know Him, know His commands and begin walking in obedience to his commands.

God provides very detailed definition of the boundaries and parameters of our love in 1 Corinthians 13.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

First of all, Love is a knowing and obeying God's Commands. As this is practiced, love grows from knowing and obeying, to being based upon our decisions to give of ourselves expecting no self-benefit. As we make such decisions to give, honest and true feelings of love will develop. Loving God is developing a personal relationship with Him by worshiping Him, praying to Him, reading His Word, trusting Him, obeying Him and serving Him. Unfortunately, our concepts of love have been clouded by a recent trend of “seeker-sensitive” churches and “feel-good” Christianity. Let us learn, remember and embrace the Lord's own definitions and truly LOVE!

The greatest expression of God's love is communicated to us in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

What does it mean to love your neighbor as you love yourself?

Why did Jesus ask Peter "Do you love me?" three times?

What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to love our enemies?

Why is loving others often so very difficult?

Do you believe that God is love?

Have you effectively developed a personal relationship with Christ?