Love By Another Name

"But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love." Love is a powerful force and means many things across our society: being in a relationship, infatuation, life passion, mother/child attachment, a favorite song or shoes, and the list goes on. The Greek language had four words for distinguish these types of love. The highest form, agape, was unique to the Bible and means the love of God for man and man for God and for others in the same manner.

Some can rename and confuse words like love and marriage, but those of us who understand real love must be a light and continue communicating and acting out what these words really mean.

In that vein, I conducted a seven day summary of Biblical love this past week on my Facebook profile, which I summarize here:

• Day 1. The Greatest Commandments. 

A powerful, radical piece of Scripture defines the core of Christianity.

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[e] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22 (NKJV)

• Day 2. Love for God? 

What does it mean to love God? Following Christ's teachings for our lives as well as those of the church he left behind, Peter, Paul, John, Luke, etc. While the teachings begin with belief/repentance, they renew many parts of life.

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14 (NKJV)

• Day 3. God's Love Spills Over. 

One of example of how the relationship with God is reciprocal love in how we obey Him and how He grows fruit in our lives. Christians will never be perfect this side of heaven, but there are new fruits that are produced.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

-Phil 4:8-9 (NKJV)

• Day 4. God's Commands Out of Love.

How great is it that God loves us enough to teach us to care for our bodies, not just do whatever we feel in the moment? Let our souls not become so calloused by sexual practices that are contrary to God's guidance that we don't see how this sin spills out into all of our relationships, stripping them of kindness, joy, and patience.

12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

I Cor 6 (NKJV)

• Day 5. Marriage as a Reflection of Greatest Love. 

Marriage between a man and a woman can be an image of the love of God, unconditional, persevering, forgiving, patient. However, Christ and the early church he left behind as He promised have a high view of marriage in many respects:

Sex has a deeper, spiritual side, not to be used just as recreation. I Cor. 6:15-20
Marriage accompanies the union of a man and woman. Gen 2:24
Divorce is only sanctioned in the case of adultery. Matt.5:32
Adultery clearly includes pornography in Christ's definition. Matt. 5:28
Marriage and having children go hand in hand. Gen. 1:27-28
...

While the American church has reason to grieve for our nation lately, if we all had higher standards for ourselves (individual responsibility, right?), our civil and church leaders, our children, etc., this country would be much more healed of division rather than divided by special interests who the media and politicians pit against one another.

• Day 6. Prism of Love. 

The English language fails the word "love" compared to the Greek language. Greek has four different words for "love," and all of these or a variant are used in the Bible.

Phileo: brotherly love, loyalty to friends, family
Eros: self-gratifying love, sought for pleasure
Storge: natural affection, as for family members
Agape: unconditional love from God, love of mankind for God and God for mankind

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love (agape), as Christ also has loved (agape) us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know,[a] that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Ephesians 5 (NKJV)

• Day 7. Practical Love Defined. 

One of the most well-known passages on Biblical love describes how love plays out in practical relationships. Love holds up even when people are difficult or not very lovable - love is patient. Love is confident - it does not need to boast. Love looks out for others needs - it is unselfish.                                                                       Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whetherthere are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Cor. 13 (NKJV)