The power of love
1 John 4:19
We love [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][‘agapomen’ – agape], because He first loved [‘egapesen’ – agape] us.
There is a heavenly challenge in this season to the people of God – to examine hearts, attitudes and concepts of love. God is inviting his children to come to Him with questions about love, to look deeper into what His word says about love and to meditate with the Spirit on His love.
Don’t be afraid to broach the subject with God, for there is a grace and even a favour for those who will delve into these things. Don’t be afraid of what might come to the surface, because Jesus Christ is ready to skim away the impurities.
Examine your hearts for any areas where you have limited God’s love to your earthly knowledge, experience and fleshly desires. Have your thoughts become entangled by an over-focus or desire for eros love or philos love*? And have bad experiences of the past given you a wrong or limited understanding of the agapelove of God? It is good to ask, good to search, good to go deeper in the deep things of God!
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
*In simple terms, the Greek language of the New Testament has a number of words for love, including:
eros: romantic, sensual, erotic – the exhilarating ‘I’m in love’ feeling
philia: brotherly love, the love of friendship, best friends and fellowship with those people you enjoy
storge: family love – e.g. parents and children. Appears in compound form in Romans 12:10
agape: charitable love; proactive, committed, sacrificial love. It is the love of God in John 3:16 and how Christ loves the church in Ephesians 5[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
