For those who seek to soar to the heights of a love supreme, the love of God or agape is the highest form of love. It differs from eros or passion or sensuous love of the flesh and is even beyond philos or love of friends or family. The root of philos is found in the designation of Philadelphia, which is known as the “City of Brotherly Love.” On the other hand, agape, a term that is used exclusively in the New Testament, reveals the uniqueness of God’s love which is so clearly defined in I Corinthians 13, a passage of scripture that is often excerpted or quoted in its entirety at weddings. This section from verses 4-7 of the Amplified Bible illustrate the distinctive power of the love of God:
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
The first part of verse 8 reiterates that “Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].”
With love, as with any other emotion, there must be a demonstration or manifestation whereby one knows the reality of the emotion in question. Believers speak of the love of God in manifestation which is so clearly demonstrated in one of the most widely recognized verses in the Bible, John 3:16:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
It has been said that you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Indeed, all love is giving. The essence of love as defined by giving is also seen in this anonymous poem:
Love ever lives, outlives, forgives,
And while it stands with open hands it lives.
For this is love’s prerogative:
To give and give and give
The book of I John also elaborates on the love of God:
1 John 3:16
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him.
The love of God is “perfected” or made complete or brought to maturity in us when we walk in the steps of Jesus Christ, the ultimate example of perfect love. Click here to read about love being the perfect antidote to fear:
Those who follow in the steps of Jesus Christ are exhorted to follow after or hotly pursue love.
That driving passion to know the love of God at its highest level is expressed poetically in this way:
Intimacy
You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me
from trouble; you shall compass me about
with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7
Flood my blood with love and remove all fear.
Fulfill this yielded vessel, clothe me and
Draw me nearer, closer than breath or tear.
Share with me the intimacy you planned
For man to cherish and enjoy before
You fashioned earth or gave to man his form.
Whisper divine secrets hidden in store
Within your heart, my shelter from life’s storm.
Fill my ears with words of peace that shall bring
Forth my lifelong song in your melody
That I may vocalize your will and sing
In one accord, in perfect harmony.
More intimate than friend or kin or wife
Is close-knit love God weaves within my life.
From Stone upon Stone: Psalms of Remembrance
Above all things, believers are encouraged to put on love of God, which is the bond of perfection.
This article is one of a three-part Christianity 101 series. Click here to read the introduction to the series on faith, hope and love.
Other Christianity 101 topics include "What is prayer?" and "What is the rapture?"
Listen to the glorious harmonies of the Gaither Vocal Band performing “The Love of God.”
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Comments
Mr Johnson, Believe about Love is like "Please do not encourage people to become too overly dependent on my care and support but love them by letting them know the Truth and Stand on their own feet." If ya see the courage of wheelchaired people who still praise the Lord, Jesus. Wow I take my hat off because I am not wheelchair but i see the frigging spirit of faith and most importantly courage. Its from within Mr Johnson. Yes we can try to inspire as much as we can, but bottomline, it is themselves. Cannot have a communication link if it is not 2 ways.
Unless we accept ourselves,accept and understand who we really are, our weakness and accept it. You know all the talk about sin and repentance and all that. Actually why not accept it, face our weakness be natural but not against our conscience.
Seriously, repression is bad, facing it, being ourselves and being natural. Why sin occurs, by suppressing ourselves, by i would say not having faith with love and wisdom.
Mr Johnson,
Seen a movie on Jesus, wow super actor man. He speaks with faith and confidence not like a repressive and supressing self person. Power Man!!! Be Brave, Be Truthful, Be Wise is all I say!
He gets angry and smash the hawkers near God's Temple. But of course, we do not do that. Thats why i find Jesus is super! His Love is Super Great, He Whacks The Crap Out Man!! Kind of felt when i read the Bible, he is doing his dream fufiling his purpose, and if i may comment i felt personally he is being himself. He face himself really faithful. Well many people can say many things. Jesus has courage and sweet beautiful gracious love. He says things so true to the Heart and Realities that only hyprocrites will disagree but honest, righteous and wise people will understand his compassion and wisdom for saying the Truth. Liken the Priest Nicodemus whom instantly knew he is From Up There.
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