One of the most radical, unfathomable and profound expressions of love in ancient history is the demonstration of God’s love towards mankind exhibited through the death of his only begotten son: Jesus.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
No sacrifice assumes supremacy over this, and this selfless act has refined the course of humanity and continued to resonate through the wheel of time. As the world ceremoniously adorns itself in red hues in events like Valentine’s Day, it is germane to reckon with the realization that the greatest love is God’s love expressed in his unparalleled sacrifice and thus, reciprocation to this love is a fine compensation.
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
We should love HIM because He first loved us. This love is not transactional: based on what we have received or not but rather on the fundamentals of His love. His love is the foundation by which we build our love towards Him. Thus, Easter’s true essence is to reflect and meditate on what it means to love (God) as brethren. And it is noteworthy that we can only reflect this divinity of love by first embracing the love that was shown to us through Christ. Christ is the prism of light and love by which we reflect our light and prism.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord
2 Cor 3:18
The Phenomenology of Love
What then is Love? Love is a sacred term and to understand its concept, we must travel to Ancient Greece which categorized the expression of love into 4 forms.
- Phileo: brotherly love, and compassion for others.
- Storgē: a familial love, such as the bond between a parent and child.
- Eros: this is linked to sexual, romantic love, and physical attraction.
- Agapē: a sacrificial love based on principle. This love is synonymous with unselfish behaviour
and intense affection. This is the Love of God and should be our Love to God and for God
expressed towards Him and to all mankind.
Also Read: FROM CREATION TO REVELATION: THE REDEMPTION STORY
How to Love GOD
Love thrives on the wings of a selfless heart. Jesus exemplified this by dedicating all of his beinghood to God and to the service of humanity — to love everyone either sinner or drunkard, harlot or tax collector equally and wholeheartedly.
Love means responding in kind and forgiveness to those who hurt us and even to those who don’t deserve it. For God so loved the world, he erased every sin, administered grace, forgave and forgot and gave a new slate: the gift of salvation unto all men.
This implies that we must be practical representatives of this as Christians i.e. Christlike. We should be a balm of love to heal every fracture in this world. You cannot say you love God and you do not love your neighbour as yourself. The scriptures confirm this.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1 John 4:20
Similarly, other attributes of a sincere love lifestyle can be found in 1st Corinthians 13.
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. [AMP]
1 Cor 13:4
Love listens. Love sympathizes. Love rejoices with. Love is selfless. Love compromises. Love is patient. Love is forgiving. Love is committed. And most importantly, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, love gives.
The Love That Gives
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
John 3:16
Love always gives. Even if it’s at the expense of itself, that is why it is called selfless. It succeeds not for selfish gain but for the edification of its addressee. What love is there if you only love because of a reward or to be loved in return?
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matt 5:46
Love is an extension of God’s grace to all, both in truth, in words and in deed.
Conclusively, we should endeavour to live every single day of our love in commemoration of the love of God, spreading happiness, and illuminating the world with hope and hospitality as our Lord Christ did.
Love generously!
