It was Jonathan Swift, the satirical author of Gulliver’s Travels, who said, “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”
The main evidence of maturity in the Christian life is not the gifts of the Holy Spirit .
1. a growing love for God
2. for God’s people
It has well been said that love is the “circulatory system” of the body of Christ.
By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. (John 13:35 Amplified)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
The ancient Greeks had four different words we could translate love.
Eros was one word for love. It is described, as we might guess from the word itself, erotic love. It refers to sexual love.
Stor-ge was the second word for love. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general.
Phileo is the third word for love. It speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership. It might be described as the highest love of which man, without God's help, is capable of.
Agape is the fourth word for love. It is a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. It gives because it loves; it does not love in order to receive.
Ministry without love cheapens both the minister and those who are touched by it; but
ministry with love enriches the whole church.
Love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)
The above verses tell us eight things that love is not.
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7)
The above verses tell us four things love is
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