What is True Love?
I love coffee. I love baseball. I love my family. I love my wife. I love seeing people engaged in worship, falling to their knees, lifting their hands, crying as they sing, knowing that they are connecting with the Spirit of God in worship…I love it. I could most likely continue this list for quite some time!
But really, what is true love?
Maybe it’s hard to describe true love, because even in ancient history there were different words used to describe love. Two of the most commonly used words were “Agape” and “Phileo.” The word “Phileo” described a love for mankind towards mankind, a brotherly love. The word “Agape” described a sacrificial love, especially as it relates for God towards mankind.
In I John 4:8 we read that “God is love” using the Greek word, “Agape.” True sacrificial love is defined as God.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
God showed…proved…and established his great love. The Almighty God of this universe, Creator and Sustainer of Life, Giver of all things, Most Powerful and Eternal has shown and proved his love. An “agape” love, which is a sacrificial love.
True Love is God, demonstrating an incredible sacrificial action towards mankind, in spite of how much we have messed up. That is love!
Jesus said (John 13:35), “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” By the way, that word love used is “agape.” When we sacrificially give up something of ourselves for someone else regardless of whether they deserve it or not, regardless of whether we get something in return or not, that is agape love. That is proof to the world that we are like Jesus and belong to God’s family.
You are truly loved by the God of this universe. There is proof! True Love is the nail-scared hands of our Savior Jesus Christ. The scars are proof that He loves us.
The next time you say, “I love…” stop and ask if you could really prove it. Do your actions prove and show the love?
The next time you look at a cross, a nail, a whip, or a set of thorns…humbly bow your head to God and say, “Thank you for showing me your great and true love!”
God bless you all,
Pastor Rex
I love coffee. I love baseball. I love my family. I love my wife. I love seeing people engaged in worship, falling to their knees, lifting their hands, crying as they sing, knowing that they are connecting with the Spirit of God in worship…I love it. I could most likely continue this list for quite some time!
But really, what is true love?
Maybe it’s hard to describe true love, because even in ancient history there were different words used to describe love. Two of the most commonly used words were “Agape” and “Phileo.” The word “Phileo” described a love for mankind towards mankind, a brotherly love. The word “Agape” described a sacrificial love, especially as it relates for God towards mankind.
In I John 4:8 we read that “God is love” using the Greek word, “Agape.” True sacrificial love is defined as God.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
God showed…proved…and established his great love. The Almighty God of this universe, Creator and Sustainer of Life, Giver of all things, Most Powerful and Eternal has shown and proved his love. An “agape” love, which is a sacrificial love.
True Love is God, demonstrating an incredible sacrificial action towards mankind, in spite of how much we have messed up. That is love!
Jesus said (John 13:35), “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” By the way, that word love used is “agape.” When we sacrificially give up something of ourselves for someone else regardless of whether they deserve it or not, regardless of whether we get something in return or not, that is agape love. That is proof to the world that we are like Jesus and belong to God’s family.
You are truly loved by the God of this universe. There is proof! True Love is the nail-scared hands of our Savior Jesus Christ. The scars are proof that He loves us.
The next time you say, “I love…” stop and ask if you could really prove it. Do your actions prove and show the love?
The next time you look at a cross, a nail, a whip, or a set of thorns…humbly bow your head to God and say, “Thank you for showing me your great and true love!”
God bless you all,
Pastor Rex