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Godly love is different than the type of love popularized by TV shows and Hollywood movies. The heavens aren't going to suddenly part so that God can shower you with the latest designer clothing, flowers, boxes of chocolates or diamonds. God's love isn't going to merely last until the next person comes along. God isn't going to keep you at arm's length while he hopes to chance upon a hot tub full of supermodels. God's love is all-encompassing. God's love is forgiving. God's love is unconditional. God's love is everlasting. Quite simply, God has always loved you, and He always will love you.
Deep down inside, isn't that what most of us want -- to be loved? Love is the most potent, positive emotion we mortals can experience. When God created us, he included love as a basic, integral human need. Despite this, love often seems elusive, and is one of the most difficult emotions for many people to experience. There are also people who seem lacking in the ability to love. It can be difficult to express affection or compassion for people who don't reciprocate these feelings -- yet they may be the very ones who are secretly crying out for the most kindness and attention. Yet God wants us to understand love, not only for the impact it has upon our own lives, but for the way it touches the hearts of those around us -- no matter how many walls they've erected between us and themselves.
Many people have difficulty believing that God fully and sincerely loves them. Even when our intellect can comprehend this concept, it can be challenging to actually perceive it within our emotions. The issue may arise from our own inner conflicts related to our attempts to offer love to seemingly unlovable people. We may question whether we should treat everybody in the same manner, and what our responsibility is regarding difficult people -- or if we have any responsibility at all.
There are a variety of Greek words that the Bible uses for "love." One is "philia," which depicts the affection and respect that is extended to a friend, while "eros" refers to romantic love. Another term, "agape," describes sacrificial love, which was most graphically demonstrated by Jesus Christ paying for our sins with his own sin-free life. According to Galatians 5:22, love is "a fruit of the Spirit," and a trait of God which He has placed in the hearts of all believers. Each and every person who is indwelt by the Spirit of God is capable of loving in a Godly manner.
In order to assist the Pharisees in understanding God's love, Jesus recounted parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost child (Luke 15). From the tale of the Prodigal Son (vv. 11-32), we receive an education in how to express Divine love to others -- particularly those who desperately need it -- and how its astounding power can influence the people around us.
Love may encompass many definitions, but ultimately, it's a dedication to another person's satisfaction, security and development. When we love, we want to provide others with a sense of wellbeing, to help them feel safe, and for them to learn and become everything God envisions for their existence.
"Agape" love exhibits itself in various ways -- the most prominent being its capability of responding patiently in trying situations. When we are open to following God's lead, He will assist us in expressing Divine love, even in situations that are challenging or tragic.
Godly love also makes it possible to sacrifice without complaint. In the parable, the boy's father gave away a large percentage of his estate with neither argument nor complaint because he realized where the boy's heart was -- in some ways, his son had already departed. The father was tolerant, loving, and willing to sacrifice, even though he knew his son's plans would be catastrophic.
"Agape" love also enables calm waiting. In Luke 15's parables of loss, the woman and the shepherd aggressively sought the missing sheep and coin. The Prodigal's father, however, did not rush out and plead for the boy to return. He knew his son's mind was made up and his heart was already long gone. So the father remained at home, hopeful and watchful for the homecoming of his boy. Godly love entails patience, even when patience feels incredibly difficult or impossible.
The father's patience was abundantly rewarded -- his son returned home. Nobody had enticed him into coming back -- in his own mind, he was utterly convinced that he wanted to return to his father's home (vv. 17-29). He needed to come to the end of his possessions, his wealth, and his very self before he could recognize that he wanted and needed his father.
And he received an overwhelming welcome home: "While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (v. 20). In that era, no man with a shred of dignity or wealth would ever publicly run, but this father had no qualms about what other people might think. He ran to the boy, arms extended in forgiveness, sympathy and love.
Love. That true, Divine, "agape" love possesses many powers and extraordinary capabilities. One of love's benefits is that it energizes. God created us to love and be loved in return. When that feeling is expressed to us, we experience a joyous, supernatural energy.
Love also heals. Doctors attest to the fact that love prominently factors into good health. When sincere care is displayed to someone who is suffering physically, spiritually or emotionally, positive changes -- and even complete healings -- will occur within that person.
Love encourages. Through the expression of "agape," healing is transmitted to the heart, as well as to the body. When the demoralized Prodigal Son experienced his father's warm welcome, he realized that his father wasn't dwelling on the mistakes that he'd made, but instead was overjoyed by his safe return home.
Love empowers forgiveness. One of life's greatest challenges is to surmount an unforgiving spirit -- but love provides us with the ability to pardon others. Every believer is one of God's forgiven children, so none of us can rightfully deny forgiving anyone else.
Love elicits generosity. According to Luke 15:22, "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.' " Overflowing with love, this father requested only the best for his son. When a person is guided by the purity of love, they will seek powerful ways to express that emotion. Since generosity and authentic love are characteristics of God, they should also be traits of His children.
Love enables us to joyfully serve others. If we truly love someone, we enthusiastically and freely use our gifts in service to that person.
Love restores. Via vast paternal love, the father restored the boy to his previous position, instead of chastising him. Despite the fact that the son was willing to return and work as a slave (v. 19), his father instead chose to reinstate him to his former status within the family.
Love fosters self-esteem. When it comes to self-worth, love holds almost magical powers -- it carries the supernatural vibrations of God's wondrous capabilities of caring and compassion. Tragically, many people deem themselves unlovable. Our outpourings of love can reassure them that they are valuable, worth knowing, and worthy of having affection lavished upon them.
And we can enjoy and appreciate an additional and wondrous benefit of "agape" -- the blessing of being able to pour out love to God, and have the warm, intimate and loving relationship that He savors having with us -- and that He wants us to savor having with one another.
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