'LOVE'! Probably one of the
sweetest words we know; But unfortunately it is also one of the most
misinterpreted and misunderstood... And unfortunately, our English language being
incomplete refers to different kinds of love using the same Word ‘LOVE’… So you
love your car or house, we call it love; You love your dad or mum or siblings,
we call it love; You love your cat or dog, we still call it love; You love your wife or husband, we
call it love; You love your boyfriend or girlfriend, we also call it love…
It is unlike the Greek language in which a part of the Bible was originally written; the Greeks used different words to describe different forms of love... So, they used the word 'Philia' to refer to a strong authentic, and intimate friendship kind of love; They used the word 'Storge' to refer to the kind of affectionate love between family members like for one’s parents or brothers and sisters… Then they used the word 'Eros' to refer to sexual, romantic, and erotic passion kind of love; And then 'Agape' to refer to a selfless, unconditional, sacrificial, and divine kind of love; which is the one we also call the God-kind of love, which He had for us by sending Jesus to die in our place.
So, by nature, everyone desires to love and be loved in return; and this innate desire was put there by God our Creator, Who Himself is called Love... The Bible tells us that God is love, according to 1 John 4:16… God created man in His own image, in other words, the original man was created to be an earthly replica of God's person and personality; therefore most of the inborn desires that are found in man are equally found in God…
Man has always been the object of God's love from the beginning of time till this day... So even when Adam fell by his sin of disobedience, God's love made provision for man to be restored back to a loving relationship with Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ... God in giving Christ, gave Himself for the redemption of mankind, which remains yet the greatest show of His love for humanity...
Indeed, God's love is unconditional, match-less, and immeasurable, and there is always an emptiness in every man's life that only God's kind of love can fill; No amount of wealth or love from any mortal creature can substitute it... And even though we may sometimes find ourselves in situations that seem to imply otherwise about God's love, our situations or circumstances do not negate God's love for us regardless... And His love is still the sole reason humanity still exists today, despite the rebellion of many against God, from individuals to societies, and the world at large...
We may also struggle to find the balance between God's love for humanity and the many tragedies and evils that befall mankind including God's own people... However, the reality remains that God's Archenemy (Satan) right from Adam has not only been jealous of the position of authority in which God placed man (a position not even the Angels occupy), but he also keeps working overtime alongside his agents (both demonic and human agents) to fight against the establishment of God's Kingdom and to try to prove God's love to be a lie...
God's love is not just match-less, but it is also such that as many who truly understand it, cannot but receive it, and as many who have received it cannot but express the same kind of love towards others; because in Christ, God gave His best, and all He requires of us to reciprocate His love is to believe it, receive it, and express the same towards others...
The popular Bible verse in John 3:16-17 tells us: "...For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him..." And John 1:12 (NIV) says: "...Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God..." Also 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV) says: "...Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
God is Love, and God's kind of love is only borne within our hearts by the Spirit of God, and everyone who is born of God has the Spirit of God, therefore has the capacity to love like God... God’s kind of love does not have selfish strings attached to it nor unnecessary conditions tied to it, neither does it show love with the aim of taking advantage of others, but rather to reveal God’s true nature to others…
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 13 lists the characteristics of the true God-kind of love… It says in verses 4-8: “…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...”
And as I close, I would like to use this opportunity to invite as many listening to this who are yet to accept God's love in Christ Jesus, to decide and do so today; so as to begin a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ; for indeed it is only in Christ that we can find and show true love, and it is only in Christ that we have hope of inheriting God’s eternal life and to escape eternal damnation… So, if you have not done so yet, I encourage you to decide today! And if you need someone to guide you, please feel free to reach out to me, I would be more than willing to guide you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this piece. Please share it with others if it has blessed you. Thank you once again!
#JesusChristIsLORD #GODisStillinCharge
