How would you define love?
Is love a feeling? A choice? Is love weak or strong? Can we live without love?
Our culture (even within the church) idealizes and idolizes romantic love. The love Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians is agape, the love of God (“for God so loved the world…”) and our response of love to God and one another (“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…”).
My expository dictionary’s entry on Agape says: “Love seeks the welfare of all, Romans 15:2 , and works no ill to any, 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to ‘all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,’ Galatians 6:10.” (Hogg & Vine)
In your life and history, which have you valued more, romantic love or this agape love? Why?
Think about the different activities that take up your time throughout any given week. Your job, your classes if you’re a student, errands you run, tasks you accomplish, relationships in which you invest.
What does it look like when you’re doing those things
With love?
Without love?
And maybe the most important question I could ask:
Do you believe you are worthy of being loved? Really loved, unconditionally, success or failure, for who you really are? Why or why not?
Taking a break today from the NO FEAR series to post day 1 from “14 Days of Love: A Devotional Journey through 1 Corinthians 13.” Get your free copy when you sign up for the Reemail, my weekly update newsletter.
Renee Davis Meyer 