Love and all its certainty

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1John 4:10 (NIV)

I am sure there have been times in all our lives that we've asked the question; is love real? It seems we too often hear the phrase, " We have fallen out of love." After you have heard that phrase used so often you have to question what love even is. Why do we bother with using such a passionate word if it can so simply be brought to an end?

On my quest to find a good definition of love, I found many, and on so many different levels. As in the Greek language I wish so badly we had different words for all the different kings of love. Eros is a physical love. Philia is a friendship love. And Agape is unconditional love, the kind of love God has for us. Not only does God love us with no conditions, with no strings attached, he showed us that love on another level when he sent his Son as a sacrifice. He made a way for us to be made clean amongst our enormous shortfalls. There was no other way to the Father, no other way.

Since we are all humans full of sin this agape love is not an easy assignment for us, as we are commanded to love others as Christ loves us. We are even called to love our enemies, (Luke 6:27). It is easy to love someone who makes you feel good, (Eros). And it is also easy to love someone who you feel you have a connection with, and someone who gives you kindness in return to yours, (Philia). It is not natural for us to want to love someone without these conditions. The only way to love others unconditionally is by the power God gives us. 1John 4:13-21 says it perfectly.

Love is real, and in my mind Agape love is the only kind worthy of the word love. It is the only kind that cannot be erased. Where would we be if God choose to fall out of love with us? He does not love us because we make him happy, we disappoint him daily, if not hourly! If we shut out everyone who does not make us happy or has done wrong to us, we would never have any human contact. We are so quick to think of ourselves, forgetting of all the people we have wronged, maybe even unintentionally. Forgiveness is a usually a vital part of love considering we are all sinners and have all done wrong. We must look to God in all his eternal unconditional love and utmost forgiveness; He is the only perfect example we will ever have.

Father, Thank you so much for your great love. Thank you for showing us that love on the cross, thank you for never leaving or forsaking us. Help us to show your great love to all.

Sarah Hostetler