God is love (1 John 4:8). The Bible tells us so. His love is the basis for our salvation. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Among the many attributes of God, love is one He desires in us. The identifying mark of Christians is not a cross dangling from our necks or a catchy slogan on a tee shirt, but our love for one another (John 13:35). So what do we know about the love of God, with which He loves us and which should mark our relationships? Here are two ways God loves you and wants you to emulate Him in your love for others:
Old Testament
The primary word for love in the Old Testament is chesed (pronounced “hĕ-sĕd”). Chesed is translated “lovingkindness” in most translations. Its Hebrew meaning, however, is more focused. It is a LOYAL love. God loves Israel with a loyal love meaning that, though they forsake Him and run after other gods and He must discipline them, He remains committed to them. They are still the objects of His love because He is a loyal God who will not leave or forsake His own.
Chesed reminds me of Ruth’s words to Naomi after Naomi urges her to depart and go back to her people. Ruth replies, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse if anything but death parts you and me” (Ruth 1:17, 18). Now that’s loyal love! That marks how God loves us and how we ought to love one another.
How loyal is your love? Are you loyal to your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your church? Loyal love means you won’t “throw them under the bus” when pressured to speak ill of them. Loyal love means you will be faithful and refuse the temptation to betray them. Loyal love means you will always assume the best about them until facts prove otherwise.
New Testament
In the New Testament, the primary word for love is agape (pronounced “ă-gă-pay”). Agape is the primary Greek word used to describe God’s love and the love He pours into our hearts as believers. His love is a SACRIFICIAL love. It is a love that is willing to spend and be spent for its object. Jesus declared, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13). As C.C. Ryrie comments, “The highest expression of love is a self-sacrifice which spares not life itself.” 1 John 3:16 exhorts us with these words, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” Agape love for one another (meaning other believers) is how the world will know that we are Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35).
Agape sacrifices. Its primary concern is others not self. We live in such a self-focused world, don’t we? Everyone wants to benefit himself. Agape is other-centered rather than self-centered. What does that look like? It is the husband who sacrifices time, finances, and energy to benefit his wife and family when he could spend time pursuing his own pleasures. It is the couple who forgo a trip to the Bahamas to support a friend on a mission trip. It is children saving their allowances in order to give to a missions organization that helps feed and clothe children in a city. Agape is “love with skin on!” It blesses others. The best description of agape love is found in the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Read it carefully and, if you’re brave enough, insert your name in place of love and see how you fare at loving others.
Lord, please help me to show others this two-way love,
Irv