Love
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I was at the wedding of two young people recently and I could not help but admire the love in their eyes as they spoke their vows to each other. I was blown away when the woman addressed her man by the pet name she had given him. It was absolutely beautiful!
Love is one of the most beautiful gifts God gave mankind, and observing two people who are genuinely in love is so amazing. But the most amazing thing about love is that everyone has someone who loves them absolutely; faults, flaws, imperfections and all!
But often, either we never find that “someone;”or we find them, take them for granted, and lose them; or we find them but never get the love returned! When I see people who are absolutely in love with someone who doesn’t love them, I often say,
“Life is not fair.”
I say life is not fair because love makes you vulnerable; and unrequited love makes you exposed, unprotected and endangered.
In a counseling class recently, we were taught a beautiful game I will call the checklist of love. In this game, we replace the words “love” and “it” in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 with our names; then read it. I am called “Benny” so mine would go like;
Benny is patient.
Benny is kind.
Benny does not envy.
Benny does not boast.
Benny is not proud. Benny does not dishonor others.
Benny is not self-seeking.
Benny is not easily angered.
Benny keeps no record of wrongs.
Benny does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Benny always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Although it is best done with a partner who would give you feedback on which ones reflect who you are accurately, and which ones need to be worked on; it can also be used for personal reflection. My shortcomings were so obvious when I undertook this exercise.
I write about love today because the recent spate of lethal domestic incidents reported in the Ghanaian media is a serious cause for concern. The questions I often ask are:
- Did these two ever hold hands ?
- Did they ever look deep into each others’ eyes and said, “I love you?“
- Did they ever say, “You mean the world to me,” to each other?
- Did they ever say, “I love you just the way you are,” to each other?
If they did all these, then what would make one so violent towards the other to the extent of killing the other? What sin or offense was so grave as to elicit the loss of one’s life? Could it be that it was not love after all? Or could it be that the love was stuck at the physical level, and thus infantile? So that when the physical was spent, there was nothing left to hold on to?
There are three main types of love:
We have Phileo love. Phileo love refers to brotherly love and is most often exhibited in family bonds, and in close friendships. Best friends will display this generous and affectionate love for each other as each seeks to make the other happy. The Scriptural account of David and Jonathan is an excellent example (1 Samuel 18:1-4).
Then we have the Eros. The English word erotic originates from this word. Eros expresses sexual love or the feelings of arousal shared by people who are physically attracted to one another. It is entirely physical, and driven by animal instinct. It is a biological stimulus and response system, and is at the root of procreation. It disappears once sexual satisfaction is achieved. The Scriptural account of Amon and Tamar is an excellent example (2 Samuel 13:1-22).
Then we have the Agape. Agape is the most powerful of all. It is noble, entirely voluntary, and an act of the will. It is sacrificial. It is not a feeling, but a decision. A decision to stick with someone; stand by, protect, defend, build up and preserve the person.
Agape is the love that God has for the His people. It was a decision to love despite sins, betrayals and shortcomings (Romans 5:8). The good Samaritan(Luke 10:25-37) did not know the man who was attacked, neither was he a family member or was he physically attracted to him (Jews and Samaritans in those times had no dealings). But he made a decision, at the risk of being attacked himself, to take care of him. That is agape. Jesus personified agape love, and used the parable of the good Samaritan to illustrate its practice among humans.
Agape is a decision; and experts say marriages need the Phileo, the Eros and the Agape.
But they also insist that what holds a marriage together for a lifetime is the Agape.
MEMORY VERSE
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
QUESTIONS
What do you mean when you say, “I love you”?
Do you know that the best, and most noble love, is a decision?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help me to love others the way You loved us, even in our worst states.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
Then develop your new relationship
with God through your Quiet Time.
Then find a Bible-Believing Church
where you can Fellowship with like
minded people.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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