2022-08-02
Ephesians 5:2 NKJV
The Greeks used four words to distinguish different types of love: (1) Storge, which means natural affection; (2) Eros, which means sexual attraction; (3) Philia, which means emotional affection or friendship; (4) Agape, which means unconditional, giving, sacrificial love.
When the Bible tells of God’s love for us and the type of love we are to have for Him and others, the word is always “agape,” indicating a commitment to act. Do you know it’s possible to love someone you don’t even like? Indeed, if God is going to educate us to love, He will bring certain hard-to-love people into our lives. The truth is, our lives are full of people we don’t like. We do not like the way some people speak. We do not like the way some behave. We do not like what others wear. But most of all, we tend to dislike people who don’t like us.
If you think about it for a minute, you can probably produce a list of people you don’t like. They would probably be people with whom you have difficulty getting along. Everyone is hard to love sometimes – even you – but some are hard to love at any time. But Jesus never demanded that we have a tender fondness for everyone. He did not feel warmth for the Pharisees. We don’t have to like everyone – isn’t that a relief? – but we must love them.
What does the Bible mean when it says, “Walk in love?” Like physical walking, this unconditional love (a) requires effort, (b) moves in a certain direction, and (c) is something you do every day.
Soul food: Deut 1-2; Mark 1:21-34; Ps 78:17-31; Prov 16:26-30
2022-08-01
Johannes 13:34 NLV
Liefde is sekerlik een van die woorde in die wêreld wat die meeste verkeerd verstaan word. Ons water die betekenis daarvan af deur dit oor te benut: ‘Ek is lief vir my vrou, ek is lief vir my land, ek is lief vir pizza.’ Om liefde te gee en te ontvang, is moeilik wanneer ons nie eers begryp wat dit beteken nie. Ons moet dus ‘n paar wanopvattings daaroor uitklaar.
Ons dink liefde is ‘n gevoel – ‘n sentimentele klomp skoenlappers in jou maag. Ware liefde veroorsaak wel gevoelens, maar dis meer as net ‘n gevoel. ‘n Tweede wanopvatting is dat liefde onbeheerbaar is. Het jy al ooit gesê: ‘Ek het halsoorkop verlief geraak’ – asof jy gestruikel het? Ons sê: ‘Ek kan nie help dat ek verlief is nie,’ of die teenoorgestelde: ‘Ek kan dit nie help nie; ek is net eenvoudig nie meer vir hom (of haar) lief nie.’ Die feit dat Jesus ons opdrag gee om mekaar lief te hê, beteken dat ons wel beheer het oor wie ons liefhet en wie ons nie liefhet nie.
Die kern van liefde kom op twee dinge neer. Eerstens, liefde is ‘n keuse. ‘Die heel belangrikste wat julle moet aantrek, is die liefde. Die liefde bind alles volmaak saam’ (Kolossense 3:14 NLV). Soos jy elke dag die klere wat jy dra kies, kies jy die houding wat jy gaan vertoon. Liefde is dus beheerbaar. Tweedens, liefde word geken deur jou optrede. ‘…laat ons nie liefhê met woorde of ‘n gepratery nie, maar eerder deur ons optrede, en met opregte bedoelings’ (1 Johannes 3:18 NLV). Dit werk as volg: Wanneer jy na iemand met opregte liefde en besorgdheid uitreik, verander jou gevoelens teenoor daardie persoon. Selfs al bewys hulle nie liefde terug aan jou nie, is God tevrede met jou. Dis genoeg beloning.
Sielskos: Hand 27-28; Mark 1:9-20; Ps 78:9-16; Spr 16:25
John 13:34 NKJV
Love is almost certainly the most misunderstood word in the world. We dilute its meaning by overuse: “I love my wife, I love my country, I love pizza.” Giving and receiving love is difficult when we don’t even comprehend what it is. So we need to clear up a couple misconceptions.
We think love is a feeling – a sentimental knot in your stomach. True love does create feelings, but it is more than a feeling. A second misconception is that love is uncontrollable. Have you ever said, “I fell in love” – as if you had stumbled? We say, “I can’t help it if I’m in love,” or the opposite, “I can’t help it; I just don’t love him (or her) anymore.” The fact that Jesus commands us to love one another means that we do have control over whom we love and whom we do not.
Love, at its core, is two things. First, love is a matter of choice. “Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14 NIV). Notice those two small words, “put on.” Like you choose the clothes you wear each day, you choose the attitude you will display. So, love is controllable.
Second, love is a matter of behaviour. “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18 NIV). It works like this: When you reach out toward someone with genuine love and concern, your feelings toward that person change. And even if they don’t return your love, God is pleased with you. That’s reward enough.
Soul food: Acts 27-28; Mark 1:9-20; Ps 78:9-16; Prov 16:25
