Many have questioned this over time.
It's not just a title of a popular song.
It's the cry of the heart of mankind.
What is love?
Paul wrote about what love is in 1 Corinthians 13...
Love is patient and kind.
Paul wrote about what love is not...
Love is not envious, rude, or puffed up.
What does some do?
Paul wrote about what love is not...
Love is not envious, rude, or puffed up.
What does some do?
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Forever.
Because, love never fails.
But how do we love?
For one English word, there are so many other words in other languages.
In Biblical Greek, there were four words for the different kinds of love that they knew of... agápe, éros, philía, and storgē.
Jesus said, in John 14:15 (ESV):
"If you love me, keep my commandments."
Jesus also said, in John 15:10 (ESV):
"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."
Other versions translate "keep" as "obey."
When asked the two greatest commandments, Jesus replied:
"'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27, ESV).
Jesus said, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:40, ESV).
When Jesus announced that he had been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18, ESV), He commissioned his disciples:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19, ESV).
But He didn't stop there. He continued:
"Teaching them to observe [obey] everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20, ESV).
So... how do we love? We obey.
Through the story of the first king of Israel, we learn that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).
In the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus, our eternal King, died for our sins on the cross.
However, in the ultimate act of obedience, Jesus first surrendered His will.
He pleaded three times, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me" (Luke 22:42).
Then, he said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42, ESV).
Would you, like Jesus, submit your will, today?
Follow the Great Commission, not only baptizing, but by teaching people to love -- to obey.
Forever.
Because, love never fails.
But how do we love?
For one English word, there are so many other words in other languages.
In Biblical Greek, there were four words for the different kinds of love that they knew of... agápe, éros, philía, and storgē.
Jesus said, in John 14:15 (ESV):
"If you love me, keep my commandments."
Jesus also said, in John 15:10 (ESV):
"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."
Other versions translate "keep" as "obey."
When asked the two greatest commandments, Jesus replied:
"'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27, ESV).
Jesus said, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:40, ESV).
When Jesus announced that he had been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18, ESV), He commissioned his disciples:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19, ESV).
But He didn't stop there. He continued:
"Teaching them to observe [obey] everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20, ESV).
So... how do we love? We obey.
Through the story of the first king of Israel, we learn that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).
In the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus, our eternal King, died for our sins on the cross.
However, in the ultimate act of obedience, Jesus first surrendered His will.
He pleaded three times, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me" (Luke 22:42).
Then, he said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42, ESV).
Would you, like Jesus, submit your will, today?
Follow the Great Commission, not only baptizing, but by teaching people to love -- to obey.
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