Love

Yesterday night instead of writing a paper I went to Bible study and watched Shrek…haven’t seen it you say…well you should go rent it. We focused on love, if you have read previous Blogs, then you know I talk about this a lot. In class we took a look at….you guessed in 1 Cor. 13. Did you know that in the Greek language our English word love has four different words…

Storge-love of family
Eros-sexual love/attraction
Philio-brotherly
love/friendship
Agape-God’s love

1Cor 13. is talking about that unconditional love (there is an equilibrium) this verse isn’t about our love, but God’s love (Agape)..how do we know this? In verse 5 it talks about the characteristic of “not self seeking” so with other loves there is always a give and take. So while this is a verse often used in marriage ceremonies….we should just be asking for agape to be apart of eros and philos.

Matt 5:43-48 you always can love, but how is that different than the pagans? These verses are talking about loving someone that maybe unlovable…(am I saying you have to like the person?…nope just love them) Look at the people around you…do you love them like you should…are you showing them philio?

Oh and a really good verse that tells us that it is ok to philio, that we aren’t capable of agape. John 21:15-19 Jesus questions Peter… “Peter do you agape?” “yes I philios”-Peter replied. “Peter do you agape?” “yes I philios”…then Jesus asked one last time… “Peter do you philos?” “Yes Lord I philos you.” It was at this time we see that it is ok that Jesus is excepting of the philos we have to offer him. Peter (us) can now see the weakness in our love….we can never agape, but we can love all. You may be thinking why did he ask the same question thee times in a row…well remember Peter earlier on denied Christ three times.

I talk about love a lot because I think it is essential in life. In John 4:7-16 Love=God. The only way to see love is through God. We can give nothing back to God that is why his is agape…no strings attached kind of love. Love comes from faith in Christ. (I’m not saying that people who are not Christians can’t love, but they might not understand agape..the meaning of love from God.)
Just a thought for the day…..our love is not perfect..., but God accepts us the way we are.

Love,
Kris

Sorry for the errors and the jumbledness..i’m in class!