It’s Love That Makes the World Go ‘Round: Part Two

Colossians 2: 1 – 3

Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments.” (John 14: 15) He then said, “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you love one another.” (John 13: 35)

Satan is a counterfeiter. Christ says we are to love. Satan runs in a substitute and redefines love. A counterfeit is intended to look like the original. A counterfeit of what Christ meant will for a time pass for love?  Emotions or feelings answer the call.

The Greeks had a word for the kind of love of which Christ spoke, it is “agape,” meaning selfless love. The prototype is the love Christ has for us.

The Greeks had a word that is somewhat definitive of emotions and feelings. It is “eros.” It is used for sensual or emotional feelings.

When the Scripture says, “Husbands love your wives,” it is not an appeal to have a warm fuzzy feeling regarding them. It means to be committed to them as Christ is to us.

Feelings change. In the matter of feelings most marriages have highs and lows. Surprise, if you thought yours was the only one that did. 

In marriage and all relations there are times when the flavor has faded. Then from a feelings standpoint it is difficult to comply with Christ’s command to love. When you, the subject don’t “feel” in love, that is time for your love for the object, Jesus Christ, to take over. Then your desire to please Him is stronger than your desire to fulfill your own feelings.

The challenge is complicated by ours being a sensate society in which we are taught directly and indirectly that the most important thing in life is our own feelings.  “If it feels good, do it!” is the mandate of the moment. The problem is feelings change. Christ doesn’t. Therefore, for balance and stability we need to live to please Him.

Love is not dependent —
on the nature of the one loved,
but on the nature of the one who loves.

Love is not contingent —
on the beauty of the one loved,
but on the appreciation of the lover.

Love is not conditional —
on the constancy of the beloved,
but on the faithfulness of the one who loves.

In an office I saw this on the wall:
“Someday after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides,
We shall harness for God the energy of love,
And for the second time in history man will discover fire.” T.R. deJordan 

Go now and start some fires.