Love

“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” John 21:15,16,17

In our world, people spend money to acquire the things that they value. What if we became known for spending massive amounts of LoveLove on what we value: God and other people? If we truly love God, we will be compelled to extend His LoveLove to the people in the places we live, work, and play. It’s just not Christmas without Love.

We love because God first loved us. Our Love represents the response of gratitude to God’s initiative. Our capacity to love comes from God. Believers love with a love that does not originate with them. John reminded his readers of the commandment they had received. The one who loves God should love his brother also. Jesus brought together the two commands to love God (Deut. 6:5) and to love one’s neighbor (Lev. 19:18) (see Mark 12:28-31). Those who love God will keep His commandments. Practicing godly LoveLove is both a response to God’s LoveLove and an act of obedience. The real test of our LoveLove for God is how we treat the people around us. We show we have experienced God’s LoveLove by loving others.

In regard to John 21:15-17, many commentaries point out that, in this conversation, two different words are used for “love.” In His questions in John 21:15–16, our Lord used agape, which is the Greek word for the highest kind of LoveLove, sacrificing LoveLove, divine LoveLove. Peter always used phileo, which is the Love of friend for friend, fondness for another. In John 21:17, Jesus and Peter both used Phileo.

God’s Love for Man is both unconditional and friendship. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. “For the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:27

The Father’s LoveLove for His Son is both unconditional and friendship. “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands.” John 3:35. “For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.” John 5:20

Christians are supposed to Love both unconditionally and in friendship “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” John 13:34. “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” John 15:19

The Love we have for Jesus, whether Agape or Philo, does not change our responsibility for what we should do next. It should not change our response to the continued question of What’s Next.

The firm conviction that the Jesus of history is the Christ, the Son of God, who overcame the world and brought salvation and life enables Christians to triumph. He gives His followers faith to conquer. The certainty of victory also assures believers that in dependence on God’s power, they can love God and His children and obey His commands. Our faith enables us to live victoriously in Christ by loving God and obeying His commands.

Spend a few minutes in prayer today. Knowing that true Love towards God and others is one of the most challenging aspects of our faith. Pray that everyone in your family will experience conviction from the Holy Spirit this week as they evaluate how they reflect Christlike LoveLove and where they have room for improvement. Pray that everyone takes this call to love one another seriously and ask God to give them graciousness and patience as they learn to love well.