If there is a word that is over used while utterly losing its deepest meaning it has to be the word "love." Dictionaries give us definitions and synonyms such as appreciation, deep affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, attachment; devotion, adoration, doting, idolization, worship, passion, ardor, desire, lust, yearning, infatuation, adulation, besottedness, liking, weakness, partiality, bent, leaning, proclivity, inclination, disposition; enjoyment, appreciation, soft spot, taste, delight, relish, zeal, appetite, enthusiasm, keenness, predilection, penchant, fondness and really dozens of other words that range from frivolous to creepy. And nowhere is there a word anymore that says "Love" is the name of God or even “according to Judeo-Christian teachings the feeling of God/Christ for people/followers/God creation” or anything like it.
But God IS love, shows love, gives love, shares love, pours out love, loves unconditionally, loves with infinite wisdom, loves when we cannot love ourselves and infinitely longer than we can imagine loving anything. God is love: both noun and verb -- love is what God is and what God does at all times and in all places, forever.
Maybe agape (ah-gah-pey / noun) is a better word, although this is not even on the radar for many dictionaries. Agape love is selfless, tender care that is sacrificial, unconditional, perfect in intent and capacity and eternal. No wonder folks who have never heard of what God's love is find it all confusing and overwhelming. Our human minds can (only with the help of the Spirit of God) barely comprehend such a thing. We do not experience it. Even loving, attentive parents fail to reach this level of capacity and commitment. Young love in our culture that equates "50 Shades of Gray" with love certainly does not seek it. Possibly folks in decades long loving marriages approach it. All of us who have loved and lost, loved and found we were in love with a mirage, loved and thrown it away because we could not trust it, may seek and seek trustworthy love, but no human can love in this way without mistakes or communication problems.
While we often fail to seek to understand God, God always understands us, even more than we understand ourselves. God loves us utterly from forever, for forever. God does all the heavy lifting in this relationship, but God is delighted as we seek God with trust and joy and passion.
And because we are filled and fulfilled and renewed and healed and empowered and awash in this amazing love, God expects us to let it spill through us to others who are seeking, and to those who no longer even feel it is worthwhile to seek such acceptance and trustworthiness and abundance.
This is why, when we are new in faith we are right to tread softly, seeking out people who are living out their faith, using their hands and feet and sweet words comforting and mentoring and loving in a way that reflects God's love. Seek people who humbly seek to practice agape love as they have received it, without taking credit for the good they do.
As Christians new and renewed and long-time in the faith, we want to emulate these folks, and become these folks, by living in and giving away bushels of loving kindness and unconditional respect to each of God's children...and that is you and me, baby, and each and all of us!
2 Peter 1:7
But God IS love, shows love, gives love, shares love, pours out love, loves unconditionally, loves with infinite wisdom, loves when we cannot love ourselves and infinitely longer than we can imagine loving anything. God is love: both noun and verb -- love is what God is and what God does at all times and in all places, forever.
Maybe agape (ah-gah-pey / noun) is a better word, although this is not even on the radar for many dictionaries. Agape love is selfless, tender care that is sacrificial, unconditional, perfect in intent and capacity and eternal. No wonder folks who have never heard of what God's love is find it all confusing and overwhelming. Our human minds can (only with the help of the Spirit of God) barely comprehend such a thing. We do not experience it. Even loving, attentive parents fail to reach this level of capacity and commitment. Young love in our culture that equates "50 Shades of Gray" with love certainly does not seek it. Possibly folks in decades long loving marriages approach it. All of us who have loved and lost, loved and found we were in love with a mirage, loved and thrown it away because we could not trust it, may seek and seek trustworthy love, but no human can love in this way without mistakes or communication problems.
While we often fail to seek to understand God, God always understands us, even more than we understand ourselves. God loves us utterly from forever, for forever. God does all the heavy lifting in this relationship, but God is delighted as we seek God with trust and joy and passion.
And because we are filled and fulfilled and renewed and healed and empowered and awash in this amazing love, God expects us to let it spill through us to others who are seeking, and to those who no longer even feel it is worthwhile to seek such acceptance and trustworthiness and abundance.
This is why, when we are new in faith we are right to tread softly, seeking out people who are living out their faith, using their hands and feet and sweet words comforting and mentoring and loving in a way that reflects God's love. Seek people who humbly seek to practice agape love as they have received it, without taking credit for the good they do.
As Christians new and renewed and long-time in the faith, we want to emulate these folks, and become these folks, by living in and giving away bushels of loving kindness and unconditional respect to each of God's children...and that is you and me, baby, and each and all of us!
2 Peter 1:7
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