Yes, this is the season for love. Romantic movies, candies and flowers abound. These are all great fun and can be meaningful in a healthy relationship. This kind of love, eros in the Greek, is a passionate, physical attraction. The word eros doesn’t occur in the Bible but we see an example of it in Song of Solomon.
There is another kind of love that is prevalent throughout our text, agape. Agape love is active, not a feeling. It involves self-sacrifice and faithfulness. It describes God. God IS agape love. God demonstrates this love most clearly at the cross – dying for us while we were still in our sin.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
I am fallen and can’t fully express agape love – but when I come close, it’s because of His presence in my life. Only the work of the Holy Spirit in and through me can begin to produce agape.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Galatians 5:22
This deepest form of love is a choice. It is not an emotion. It reveals itself in what we do. It is not circumstantial – in fact, it is most evident in the most difficult situations. When we decide, through faith, to follow Jesus, we begin to become more like Him, and His love is revealed.
Anyone who does not love (agape) does not know God, because God is love (agape). 1 John 4:8
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