Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
We were created to be loved by God. We were created to love. Love is the reason. Love is the purpose.
There are many words that describe different types of love in the Greek language. Here are a few of them found in the New Testament scriptures.
God’s love = agape
Friendship love = phileó
Brotherly love = philadelphia
Wife’s love of a husband = philandros
Love of money / avarice = philarguria
Love of one’s children = philoteknos
Love of mankind = philanthrópia
Love of your neighbor = plésion
Love of the pursuit of wisdom = philosophia
Love for strangers / hospitality = philoxenos
Love of honor = philotimeomai
Love of pleasure = philédonos
Love of that which is good = philagathos
Love that which is pleasing and grateful = prosphilés
Usually Greek words of love are categorized into four types which are Agape, Storge, Philia, and Eros.
Agape = is defined as a self-sacrificing love. It is the love that focuses on the will, not the emotions, experiences, or libido. It is the love God shows His people in sending his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.
Storge = refers to natural, familial love. Storge (a word not found in the Bible) refers to the type of love like shown by a parent for a child.
Philia = refers to brotherly love and is most often exhibited in a close friendship.
Eros = is the word often used to express sexual love or the feelings of arousal that are shared between people who are physically attracted to one another. The word Eros comes from the mythological Greek god, Eros who was the god of love, sexual desire, and physical love. The Romans called him Cupid and he was thought to be the son of Aphrodite. By New Testament times, this word had become so debased by the culture that it is not used even once in the entire New Testament. Although the word Eros does not appear in the New Testament, this Greek term for erotic love is portrayed in the Old Testament book, the Song of Solomon.
Obviously, the word ‘love’ in the English language has a very broad meaning and when someone says they “love’ someone – it can mean something very different to the user than what the hearer translates in their mind as to what it means. Often we have great difficulty sharing with others our feelings and description of love. Love is a great mystery that SHOULD be explored, pondered, and personally known… intimately and deeply.
To really understand love in my opinion you must begin with the One who created it and IS it. He defines love. How can we know what God means by His love in our lives on a daily basis like in our relationship with Him? This ONLY happens through the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit and our ability to discern Him, listen to Him, surrender to Him, agree with Him, and obey Him. What is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22? Hint: the word used is ‘agape’. If you want to understand and experience real love you must discern and understand the Holy Spirit in your life.
Is God asking you to show love? What type? To whom and when? How are you to show this love? Have you ever studied ‘love’? Pursued love? Pondered love? Have you ever asked the Holy Spirit about love? To pursue God is to pursue love. To begin to understand agape love is to begin to understand God. But also, God created within our soul our ability to love in MANY different ways. Are the ways we have learned to love – God’s ways? Are we loving what He loves? Are we loving the WAY He loves?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
2 thoughts on “Love.”
The first half of this year, God was really pressing in on me about why Love is the greatest of these. The HS wrestled with me for a long time on this.
Now, I frequently ask people why they think love is the greatest. It’s interesting to hear the responses. Typically, a churchianity infused type of response about how God loves us….
Moreover, if we’re called to be ambassadors for Christ, we are to role model Him to this dying world. We do that by demonstrating love in my opinion.
In a time where deception and division are running rampant, love is the only thing that breaks down barriers. It is the only thing people can’t muster a defense against. It catches them off guard.
Now my prayers are that He will help me to this more often and it will be foremost in my thoughts.
Hard to write a brief devotional on that isn’t it? You could probably write an entire book on it. Oh wait there already is one
All said though, you are right, we need to seek His Love more, pursue Him more
Interesting thought as my mind was quickened to Proverbs 2 regarding searching and doing so like it’s a hidden treasure. The promise is that we’re will find the knowledge of God. How much of that knowledge will be wrapped in, love?