Neither Idle nor UnfruitfulSample

Love - Meaning of the word

The Greek word translated "love" in this passage is ἀγάπη (agapē) which means “love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness". The connected verb, ἀγαπάω (agapaō) has several shades of meaning: "to love, value, esteem, feel or manifest generous concern for, be faithful towards; to delight in, to set store upon". This is the kind of love that God has for us, and it must produce a reverent love for God in us, a practical love for other believers and a desire to help others seek God.

Love - The heart of God’s character

To understand divine love, we must start from God because there are no human equivalents. God is love, in the sense that every action of His shows the reality of His love for us (1 John 4:7,8). Love for the Son by the Father has always been evident (John 17:24), and the same love is also displayed towards His creatures (John 3:16). This love, and its intensity, does not depend on how worthy the creatures are but on the Creator’s desire to love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9,10; Ephesians 2:4-7).

Love - Not just a feeling but rather a choice

Love is a manifestation of the divine will, and its causes are only revealed in the character of God himself. The choice of Israel is an example of this (Deuteronomy 4:37; 7:7,8). When God decides to love, it cannot be altered by circumstances (Isaiah 54:10) because God's love is not a short-term whim but an eternal commitment (Jeremiah 31:3).

Love - Expressed in the person of Christ

Love is not only a characteristic of the Father but also of the Son (Ephesians 5:1,2; Revelation 1:5b,6). John 13:1 shows that love was a constant factor in the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. If Jesus could, as a man, express the love of God, we can and must do so, even if imperfectly (John 13:34).

Love - The fruit of the Holy Spirit

The Christian's love is not derived from human effort, but rather from the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). In order to express love, we must have first experienced God's love for us (1 John 4:10,16,19). Through God's love, we are brought into His family and given the opportunity to experience the Father's love for us every day (1 John 3:1).

Love - Laying down your life

Love led Christ to lay down His life for us (Galatians 2:20). We must also put our lives at the disposal of others (1 John 3:16; John 15:12,13). In love, we stop living selfishly for ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:14,15), and instead put others' interests ahead of our own (Romans 15:1-3).

Love - Consistent and practical actions

God wants us to express love in a practical way:

• By obeying the commandments (1 John 2:5; 5:3; 2 John 6).
• Through actions, not just words (1 John 3:16-18). Although our primary commitment is to the church, Christian love is shown to all (Galatians 6:10).
• In the life of the church, including worship (1 Corinthians 13:1-7).
• To testify to the world (John 13:34,35).
• Forgiving as we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:12-15; 1 Peter 4:8).