Seven Daily Devotionals - Day 2 - What About Love?

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This is day two of sharing my daily devotional with you, the readers.   I will have seven days of these and then return to my food posts.  Please leave comments if you agree or disagree.  We can learn together.

Let's start by defining love.  Most of us think of love in romantic terms or having to do with family members.  Love is an "intense feeling of deep affection."  Love is "an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment."

The Greek uses four words to describe love.

1.Eros, meaning sexual or romantic love.
2.Phileo, a brotherly love.
3.Agape, the deepest love.
4.Storgay, which is the love of one's relatives.
When most people today speak of love, they generally are referring to the love of a mate, parent or child.

Most Christians believe God is the source and essence of love.  In 1 John 4:8 we read

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Jesus called these two the greatest commandments:  "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength," and "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

I only have to read this verse to know God's love for me and for you was unconditional "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16).

Nothing we can say or do will ever change God's love for us.  He made us, He loves us, He provides for us, He blesses us, He watches over us and His love never fails us.  It gives us peace in our hearts to know that when the entire world may be against us, God is still in our corner loving us.  When we mess up, and we do, God is still there loving us.  He has promised to never leave us.  He refers to us as His children.  Being a mother, I know how deeply I love my children and His love is infinitely greater than that.

I wish you love today in your life.  Romantic love, love from your friends and family, and most of all that you allow yourself to feel God's agape love - the deepest love of all.  My challenge to you today is for you to show the important people in your life that you love them.  Trust me, they never tire of hearing those three words, "I love you."

Comments

Unknown said…
I gladly accept you challenge! Lately I have felt disconnected, but will try to remedy that.
June 28, 2011 at 11:07 AM
AllThingsYummy said…
I absolutely agree. You can never say I love you enough or show enough love to the world. It would be a much better place if everyone loved a little more each day.
June 28, 2011 at 4:14 PM
AmyRuth said…
Peggy, lately I guess I have been loving people and making friends with cookies. However, there is no replacement for the 3 simple words "I love you," with a family member. As I was reading, my precious middle child who is my only daughter blessed me with a text message of love. Wowza, God is good. Your devos are inspiring. Thank you for sharing them with all of us.
AmyRuth
June 30, 2011 at 9:30 AM
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