Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:7-19)
Yesterday I attended church sevice at Calvary Chapel. Pastor Steve had a wonderful message about God's love for us centered around the above Scripture. He reminded us that there are 3 kinds of love: agape, eros and philos.
Eros - this is a Greek term which actually means desire and longing. This is a selfish kind of love and usually associated with sexual love; usually developed during the first stage of a romantic relationship; based on physical traits; it can end up being possessive since it always seeks to first conquer then control.
Agape - this is a special term which represents the divine-love of the Lord towards his Son Jesus Christ, the human beings and all believers. This is the best of the three types of love in the bible, in fact Jesus himself showed this type of divine love to his Dad in heaven and humanity. Agape love is the love that God commanded all believers to have for everyone whether he/she is a believer or not. Agape love should never be determined by our feelings; it is more of a set of behaviors or actions. With agape, you do not have to actually feel it for you to give it, which means that you can be able to show love without feeling anything at all. At times feelings can follow after showing this kind of love.
Philos - this is a unique kind of love like the one you have for a companion or pal. It refers to loving one another just like your brother or sister. This love is for a pal who is really close and dear to us and it is characterized by various different shared experiences between two people. In fact this is the kind of love that many Christians tend to practice towards one another. And although philos love is really wonderful, it is not that much reliable, since it can end up souring at times as we have all experienced at some point in our lives.
Pastor Steve reminded us that we can fall "into" philos love, but you don't fall "into" agape love. With agape it is a commitment to love that person - it is a covenant love. He told us:
God Is Love
- Everything God does is for our good
- God is always working behind the scenes
- God loves to surprise us with His Grace (I LOVED this and so agree that He LOVES to surprise us!!!), but we must wait upon Him and trust Him.
- True love has one source
- God's love is proven in Christ Jesus
He said that people are still looking for "signs" from God - they want Him to come down to them - they are forgetting or not acknowledging that HE ALREADY DID!!! In Jesus Christ. We don't need signs anymore like Gideon did with the fleece (Judges 6:35-40) because Jesus lives within us.
- Pure love (agape love) exists in response to love (1 John 4:19)
- God's love produces faith (1 Corinthians 13)
- Faith = now; Hope = the future
- Faith (believing what God says) is produced by getting rid of fear (believing in circumstances / what the enemy has to say) (v.18).
Pastor Steve talked about one of their parishoners who recently passed away - he said the same was true of Pastor Keith. Their love of God overcame their fear of cancer. WOW!
How do we get rid of fear? By worshipping God and focusing on who he is - thanking Him, praising Him. Then whenever we are in fear . . . REMEMBER WHO GOD IS. This will destroy the fear and the attitudes.
He gave us each a challenge. To search our life for a place where we might be living in fear - of something. Take to the Lord - let Him reveal how much He loves us. To remember that the most difficult thing going on in our life - God is working it for good.
He closed with the following: Love has nothing to do with the recipient. God didn't love Jesus and He doesn't love us because we are worthy, but because it is natural for God to love.
Today is the anniversary of my mother's death. I'm always extra sensitive when I think about her passing. I thank God for His Love and pray that others who are hurting may bask in it today and everyday.