GOD IS LOVE

Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for GOD IS LOVE – 1 John 4:7-8

Welcome to the month of NOVEMBER. We’ll begin this new month with meditations on the theme of LOVE – one key dimension of the unfathomable realms of the GLORY of GOD. What is LOVE?

The Greek language – the original language of the New Testament – differs from the English language when it comes to the word “love.” Whereas English has one word for “love” and may mean all kinds of different things, Greek has different words for “love” – each with a specific meaning, namely:

 Éros from which the word “erotic” derives, is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing in mind. It can apply to love in the context of marriage or outside of it.
 Agápe: referred in Ancient Greek to a deeper sense of love than mere sensual attraction suggested by eros. Agape describes “love” in 1 Corinthians 13 and throughout the New Testament as divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.
 Philia: inferred in Ancient Greek a general type of love, as between family and friends, or a desire or enjoyment of an activity. It reflects for example, in the name “Philadelphia” (“the city of brotherly love”).
 Storge: in Ancient Greek refers to natural affection, like that felt by parents for their children. It is rarely found in ancient writings.

There are perhaps as many views on LOVE as there are human beings! No perspective could however compare with that of the One described by the intimate Apostle of the Lamb, John thus: “GOD is LOVE.” That definition in verse 8 is repeated in verse 16 – for emphasis!

God expresses His thoughts on LOVE in many portions of Scripture: Song of Songs 8:5-14, 1 Corinthians 13, and in 1 John 4:7-21. The word LOVE however dominates John’s first epistle, occurring 43 times in the entire letter. In a sense John could be described as the apostle of LOVE; just as Paul is the apostle of FAITH, James is apostle of WORKS, and Peter the apostle of HOPE.

In the same epistle of 1 John, the subject of love was addressed in 2:7-11 as an indication that one is ‘Walking in the Light’ and in 3:11-24 as evidence one is a child of God. Here, in 4:7-21 the Apostle presents his fullest and complete explanation, from which a practical question glaringly arises before us: “How’s Your Love Life?”

The only way to answer that pertinent question is to measure your love life by the light of God’s Word and His description of what love is. That is what I am set to engage in through this month’s meditations. Receive insight and revelation as we continue on this prophetic adventure in Jesus name.