Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Love
Agape Love = The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention—a new word for a new thing (apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament). Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however, intense, but a supernatural fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is a matter of will rather than feeling (for Christians must love even those they dislike—Matt. 5:44-48). It is the basic element in Christlikeness.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 and note what these verses have to say about the primacy (vv. 1-3) and permanence (vv. 8-13) of love; note too the profile of love (vv. 4-7) which they give.
Your Father Loves You by James Packer, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986, page for March 10
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John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:17 (MSG) “But remember the root command: Love one another.
2 John 1:3 (MSG) Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Titus 3:5 "Twas not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit's work,
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Galatians 2:20 with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me;
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 Corinthians 13
A caring commitment, in which affection and delight are shown to others, which is grounded in the nature of God himself. In his words and actions, and supremely in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, God demonstrates the nature of love and defines the direction in which human love in all its forms should develop.
love, nature of
Scripture offers an understanding of the source, character and value of love, based on the nature and actions of God.
God is the source of love
His very character is love 1Jn 4:7-8 See also 1Th 3:12; 2Ti 1:7; 1Jn 4:16,19
The love of God is revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ 1Jn 3:16; 4:10 See also Jn 15:13; Eph 5:2,25
Love is part of the Holy Spirit’s fruit Gal 5:22 See also Ro 5:5; 15:30; Col 1:8
The loving-kindness of God referred to in the OT
Jer 31:3 See also Ex 15:13; 34:6; 2Ch 6:42; Ps 6:4; 32:10; 51:1; 107:43; Isa 54:10; 63:7; La 3:22; Hos 2:19
The love of God in the NT
To describe God’s love for humanity Jn 3:16 See also Jn 5:42; 15:10; Ro 8:39; 2Co 13:14; Eph 2:4; Heb 12:6; 1Jn 3:1
To describe love for God Lk 10:27; Jn 14:21; 21:15; Ro 8:28; 1Th 1:3; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:8; 1Jn 5:3
To describe brotherly love Jn 13:35; Ro 13:8; 1Co 16:24; 2Co 8:8; Gal 5:13; Eph 4:2; Php 1:9; Col 2:2; Phm 5
To describe love expressed by eating together 2Pe 2:13 fn; Jude 12
To describe love in a negative sense Lk 11:43; Jn 3:19; 12:43; 2Ti 4:10; 2Pe 2:15; 1Jn 2:15
Characteristics of love
1Co 13:4-8 See also Ro 12:9; 1Ti 1:5; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jn 4:18
Love is shown by deeds
1Jn 3:17-18 See also Jn 14:15,23; Ro 5:8; 14:15; Gal 2:20; 1Jn 4:9; 5:2-3; 2Jn 6; 3Jn 5-6
The pre-eminence of love
1Co 13:13 See also Mt 22:37-39 pp Mk 12:29-31; Ro 13:9-10; 1Co 12:31-13:3; Gal 5:6; Eph 3:17-19; Col 3:14; 2Pe 1:7; 1Jn 2:10
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. Martin Manser.
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Kevin Rayner
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