Which Love?

Which Love?

I recently read an article about a man who had a great idea of proposing to his girlfriend using hundreds of Sweetheart Valentine candies with “Marry Me” printed on the front. He soon discovered that “Marry Me” Sweethearts average about two per a bag! He thought it might break his bank account to keep buying bags of the candy to just reach his goal so he contacted the maker of the sweet treat to see if they could help a fella out. They graciously did and years later the couple still have a sealed box of the confectioneries to remember their love for one another. The New Testament was written in Koine Greek. Instead of one word to express love as we do in English, there are many. For instance, Eros describes the kind of love the man felt for his girlfriend when he went in search of all those “Marry Me” Sweethearts. It is a romantic love. Koine Greek also describes love for family, love for friends and acquaintances, love for an item or activity, and finally, the unconditional love God feels for all of us.

Have you ever thought about what kind of love Jesus commands us to have for one another when he instructs us to “Love one another?” It is Agape love. That same kind of unconditional love that God has for each of us. It is a love that has no strings attached. I don’t know about you, but that really makes me rethink what it means to love others. To love unconditionally means that our love has no limits; no judgement, no fear, no expectations that it will be reciprocated. Our call as Christians is to love because we were first loved and our first priority is our Agape love for our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Then our Agape love is for everyone else; family, friends, acquaintances and, yes, complete strangers. We are commanded to love them all equally without any conditions. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. As we share Sweetheart candies and cards with others, let’s be mindful of our call to love God’s children without reservations, each and everyday.

Peace, Josie