By Grace Through Faith

With this month and this specific week, you may hear many more conversations than usual about the topic of love. Love songs may be flowing through playlists and the radio. You may see chocolates, flowers, balloons, and cards all over the grocery stores. Love is in the air for February!

With the topic of love, I thought today we could talk about the complexities of love. What actually is love? Are there different types of love? How do I know I am loved even when I don’t feel loved? So, let’s dive in.

Within Scripture, we see many forms of love shown throughout stories and characters in the Bible. In fact, there are actually different types of love.

Eros love is usually referred to as romantic love that we have for others. We see this through romantic relationships and marriage in Scripture. A great reference to Eros love is the book, Songs of Solomon. The author dives into the romantic love and passion he feels for his bride. The Lord blesses this type of love within marriage and reminds us that it is a beautiful gift!

We also see a love that is shown between brothers or in friendships. We can see this displayed through Jesus and His disciples, as well as through other characters, such as Ruth and Naomi. We are to treat one another well with love, considering them apart of our family.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:36-39

The greatest type of love is agape. Agape love is the love that God has for us. In fact, God is love, so everything that God does flows out of His love.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. – 1 John 4:7-12

Agape love is one that is shown through actions. Typically referred to as sacrificial love. This is the highest form of love that we will ever receive in our life. Because God valued His relationship and love with man, He set forth the plan for Jesus to break our bondage between sin and God, eternally. Before Jesus came, man had to use burn offerings and sacrifices as a way to come before God and be cleansed from his sin. However, God made an eternally lasting covenant, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, for us to have a relationship with Him on this earth and live in eternal life with Him.

Sometimes, we may not always “feel” God’s love for us depending on circumstances or our moods. But His love is constant and everlasting.

the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. – Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord is with us always. We can always turn our eyes back towards Him when we feel lost, confused, broken, or ashamed. The cross is a lasting reminder of how much love God has towards His people. I hope especially during this week, that you will continue to fix your eyes on Jesus and His great love for you. Find gratitude for the blessings in your life, celebrate the good things He has done, and set your minds on the eternal plan that God has for His people.

 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. – Titus 2:11-14

With love,

Claire