Love Reciprocated

... is the message from New Life 2012 for the new year. As we obey the voice of Holy Spirit to practice and teach what has been given to us as a body of believers, we are finding the heart of Father God. The heart of love that is compassionate, yet so strong and pure it is difficult not to be sensitive to His presence. Beloved, when you know that you are a child of God, you can be assured that God loves you. God not only loves you, but He is love; you can be confident in the Love Who cannot fail; therefore, you are engulfed in the purest of love. “When you are willing to spend time in His presence worshipping and praising Him, you will be amazed at what happens. His blessings fall on you, totally fall on you.” There are four Greek words for love of which most people are not fully aware of the significance of their meanings. We, here at New Life 2012, would like to share with you what we are studying as it relates to the pure and undefiled love of Father God who created us in His likeness according to His image (love). According to the Bible, we see 4 types of love. These are Phileo, Eros, Storge, and Agape, and it is used in several ways of love. All these words are taken from the Greek language, which is translated to this: Phileo (Love among the brothers) Eros (Love between Husbands and Wives), Storge (Love among the Family) Agape (God’s love or we can say that unconditional love for the humans). Phileo word is a Greek word that word means love among the brothers or, you can say, brotherly love. It is often used or translated as affection or friendship. This is the love that is found between close friends. An example of Phileo is found in 1 Samuel 18:1-3 reads, “When he had a conversation with Saul, Jonathan’s soul was bound by David’s soul, then Jonathan starts loving David as much as he loves his own life. And from that day, Saul kept it with him and did not let him go back to his father’s home. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved David as much as he loved his own life”. Here we can see the love between Jonathan and David and how Jonathan starts loving him like his own soul. However, the word Phileo is not mentioned in the Bible, but the Bible explains it perfectly. As one can see, love is a virtue that every human benefits from; however, the most effectual and beneficial love is Agape (God’s love is unconditional love for humans). God’s love is holy and sovereign. God’s love never fails anyone (1st Corinthians 13: 1- 8, 13). As believers, we should love our brothers. Luke 6:28 reads, “Bless the person who curses you, Pray for them those who insult you’’. Matthew 5:44 reads, “But I tell you that love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you… Lastly and most importantly, we are commanded by Jesus to love Him and to love our neighbors. Mark 12:30 reads, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." As believers in the household of faith, love is demanded of us by our Lord and Savior, obedience is better than sacrifice.

In Christ Jesus, Pastor Glorious