If we are created in the image of God, and God is Love, then we are created to love. The Devil comes to distort that which God intended for His glory, which in turn has the following outcome:
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
2 Timothy 3:1-4 NIV
What is Love?
Love is mentioned in the:
- English Standard Version: 684
- New International Version: 686
But in the Greek language, the 4 most prominent words used for Love pertaining to the Bible are:
Agape, God’s love is referred to as agape love which is the highest expression of love that is pure, selfless, sacrificial, steadfast, unchanging and unconditional.
Agape love is love at the highest level. It’s so much more than we could ever dream or imagine.
9Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
The second Greek word for “love,” philia refers to friendship and comradery. This word is translated as “friend” (Philos) in the New Testament. Once, in Romans 12:10, the New Testament uses the compound word philostorgos, which is translated in the NIV as “devoted . . . in love.”
Storge, The third Greek word for love is storge, which relates to natural, familial love such as the love between a parent and child. In the New Testament, the negative form of storge is used twice. Astorgos means “devoid of natural or instinctive affection, without affection to kindred.”
It is a naturally occurring, unforced type of love. Some examples of storge love can be found in the stories of Noah, Jacob, and siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Eros, A fourth type of love, eros, expresses sexual love, but the word is nowhere to be found in the New Testament but context of physical love found and affirmed in the following scriptures: (1 Cor. 7:5; Heb. 13:4)
Who should we love?
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12
Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Matthew 22:37
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
John 14:15
Love – Ἀγαπήσεις (Agapēseis) 2nd person-you
Strong’s: To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for heart καρδίᾳ (kardia)
Strong’s: the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings:
- As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. : Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
- Your heart is where your treasure lies : Matthew 6:19-21
soul – ψυχῇ (psychē) : Strong’s: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.
The expressions mean generally that God is to be loved with all our powers and faculties, and that nothing is to be preferred to him.
How should we love God? By giving God praise.
No matter what situation we are in, giving God the glory through praise helps us show our love and appreciation for Him. The situation could be one that is happy, or one that is challenging. But when we lift our hands up and thank God in worship and praise for His involvement, our hearts are lifted and our eyes focus on God’s purpose in the situation.
“Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles and sing praises to Your name”
2 Samuel 22:50
Praying to God – Prayer is one of the strongest forms of intimacy we can have with God, sharing everything on our hearts in prayer so only God knows. When we pray, our hearts connect with God, and we show our love in sharing our highs, lows, and questions about the paths we are on. What is even better is that prayer provides the bridge for God to speak to us about the situations in our lives, directing our steps and encouraging our hearts.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”
1 John 5:14
Ask according to His will, John 15:7-8 Thy will be done: The Lords prayer.
Reading the Bible – Nothing reminds us more of God’s love, or the love people have for God, than reading the Bible. We have front-row seats to witnessing displays of God’s love and provision for us, as well as different ways people have shown love to God that we can mirror in our own faith walks.
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”
Romans 15:4
Loving Those Around Us – We show God love when we show others love, as God shares countless times in the Bible that loving Him means loving His creation, those around us. Just as He shows grace, patience, and mercy to all mankind, we should extend the same to the people in our lives and be encouraged when they extend the same to us.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”
John 13:34-35
Tithing – Some may question tithing as an act of love toward God, but it’s a sacrifice to God in that our love can be tied to how much money we have or what it buys us. When we tithe each week, we are letting God know that our appreciation for money doesn’t come close to the love and appreciation we have for Him. By tithing, we let God know that our love isn’t connected to dollar bills, but in the knowledge that God loves and provides for us.
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine”
Proverbs 3:9-10
Fasting – Sacrificing food in fasting can for some be the greatest sacrifice we can make, giving up one area of our lives that without, we would die. However, when you fast, it demonstrates to God that you love Him enough to push away the need to eat, and bring your attention squarely on Him. Fasting shows our love for God in that while it is hard to not eat when our stomachs are growling, we crave His guidance and love more.
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly
Matthew 6:16-18
Have Hope – When we feel the love of God in us, we can’t help but be hopeful in the situation we are in, either good or bad. We have this resilience, this endurance, this persistence, to remain hopeful and see God’s blessing come through to us. We choose to hope in hopeless circumstances because we know that God always prevails and always provides for His children.
“23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:23-25
0 Comments