LOVE IS A VERB

“He who DOES NOT LOVE does not know God, for GOD is LOVE” – 1 Jh.4:8

It is absolutely clear from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 that God is LOVE: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is Love” (1 Jh.4: 8). At His core, God is Love, but love is not merely an attribute of His character; it is His very nature. God does not just have a “loving” character! He alone loves perfectly, for He is Love. The preceding verse 7 says: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” God is the Source of love…the Source of all love! He is not only love but “love is from (or originated) God.”  John flatly says anyone: “who does not love does not know God” (v.8a). It is not sufficient to profess to be a Christian; we must put love into action. If someone says he or she is born again and knows God but hates the brother or sister, then he or she is a liar because it’s impossible to claim to know God and love God and hate your brother (v.20). Such a person lacks eternal life (1 Jh.3:15).

God's Love is profusely displayed and practically demonstrated in His Word, and our capacity to love is sourced from His Love toward us: “We love Him because He first loved us” (v.19). There are three Greek words for three kinds of love. Eros – from which the word ‘erotic’ is derived, speaks of the passionate and romantic aspects of love in relationships. The world’s cultures emphasize these, and speak of love as something one can fall in and out of.  Koinonia – speaks of brotherly love which we experience as a kind of camaraderie in fellowship with others. Agape – is the highest form of love commended in scripture as being a self-less kind of love which is “other-directed.” The Bible contains a treasure trove of scriptures about love, including passages that speak of the most romantic love (eros), brotherly love (friendship), and divine love (agape).

Agape Love is sacrificial love, which commends love of self but also love of others to the point of being willing to sacrifice self for the benefit of others (1Jh.3:16-18). God’s Agape Love was best displayed on the cross when Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and enemies of His: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom.5:6-8). Some fathers could die for their family, but not for an enemy. That is exactly what Jesus did for us! The wrath of God we deserved was placed on Him Who didn’t deserve it so that we would get what we didn’t deserve – Grace! Love is much more than a feeling or an emotion; it is action; it is practical. Love cost Christ His precious Blood – His very Life!  Love is a verb and it’s what we do, not just what we say or what you feel.

Now, the Lord instructs us: “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Lk.6:35). This is the most God-like love: to love your enemies; to do good to them, and lend to them, not expecting to be paid back! The reward will come at Christ’s return, in a hundred fold (Mt. 19:29). This is the mystery of God’s love: He loved His enemies first (us) and then did good to them (us, by Jesus’ death) and lends to us all that we have (with no demands to pay back). God is love in ways that we cannot adequately describe, and He wants us to walk in His Way of Love in all dimensions of life and destiny!