The word for this week is "love"! There are basically two words used for "love" in the New Testament. One is the Greek word "agapao" (verb) or "agape" (noun). I will share what I found in Vine's Expository Dictionary concerning this word:
"Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9,10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom 5:8. It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Cf. Deut 7:7,8.
"Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor 5:14; Eph 2:4; 3:19; 5:2; Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Gal 5:22.
"Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15,21,23; 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 5:3; 2 John 6. Selfwill, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God.
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8,9,10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal 6:10. See further 1 Cor 13 and Col 3:12-14."
This is the love that GOD has for US and the love that HE expects US to give to others! It's a decision; a choice that doesn't change no matter WHAT the other person says or does! It's THAT love that we CANNOT be separated from (Romans 8:35 and 39). It is found in many spots in the New Testament and is in contrast to the other Greek word "phileo", which means: tender affection. The best place to find both, along with their distinctly different meanings, is in John 21:15-17 and in the Amplified Bible:
15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do - with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotional, as one loves the Father? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that i have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My Lambs. 16 Again he said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep. 17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as a close friend]. Jesus said to Him, Feed my sheep.
Peter was not ABLE to love with that God kind of love (agape) at this time! Once Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live IN us and bring THAT love (Romans 5:5)! Now we have the choice to obey the Word of God and love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:33). It is also "agape" love which never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)! That makes the choice easy, don't you think? Here is Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong team with "It's Your Love":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
