Love! How much is needed?

Agape is the Bible word that means our love for God. Love stories have been written by the millions. Phileo is the word that means our love for all people. A persistence defect in mankind is a huge LACK of LOVE for the human race. Psychology has made failure after failure to make serious studies in man’s capacity to LOVE. All men like love and acceptance yet lack the TRAINING of how to love. Titus 2:3-7,10-12 says the aged women be sober (worthy of respect), sensible, temperate, sound in faith, in LOVE (charity), in patience. And that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not a drunkard, teachers of good things. So that the older women teach and train the younger women to be worthy of respect, to LOVE THEIR HUSBAND, to LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, TO BE DISCREET (self-control), chaste (pure), keepers at home (good housewife), good person, be obedient to their own husband, that the word of God be not blasphemed (speak evil of God or his messenger). Young men likewise exhort (urge) to be sober (IN SELF CONTROL). Not purloining, (stealing from them) but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.   If God meant what he said, the older women should be teaching the younger women in a class somewhere how to love their husband and children. Is that happening in our culture? The perfect place for this to be taught would be in the home by mother or grandmother and the father. Our younger people are not being taught properly how to love. This is very obvious in what is happening on our streets and in our homes.

Agape- Love can be known only from the action it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by the excellency in its objects. Self-will, that is self-pleasing is the negation of love to God. Christian love, whether, exercised toward the brethren or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings. It does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all Rom 15:2 and words are meant to have no ill to any Rom 13:8-10 love seeks opportunity to do good to all men and especially toward them that are of the household of faith God Gal 6:10. Colossians 3:8-10,12-15 says But now Christians put off all these:  wrath (vengeance), malice (evil desires).blasphemy, fifty communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing ye put off the old man (sinner) with his deeds. Put on the new man, which is renewed in KNOWLEDGE after the image of him that created him…. Put on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of MERCY, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another (showing patience) and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all things put on charity (LOVE) but this can only be done if we have been taught how and trained. This is the bond of PERFECTNESS.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body (the church). Colossians 3:18-21,23-25 says Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is not respect of persons. In most cases our love for one another is expressed in some sort of pleasure. One of the time-honored forms of love is eating together. Being given food is the first expression of love that a baby experience. FOOD=LOVE. A SMILE, A HUG, A KISS, A KIND WORD. In the Christian religion eating is called communion. Perhaps to the Christian love gives the Lord’s supper a greater appreciation. In many religions today the Lord’s supper is frowned upon, even discouraged or omitted. Consider the command connected with withdrawing fellowship with such a one, no, not to eat I Cor 5:11 What could be more motivating to be ashamed than to have a congregation withhold love, and what better way than to refuse to eat with a person? Jesus ate with sinners Matt 9:11 He fed the multitudes Mark 6:42 A host of other scriptures emphasize the idea of eating together equals love. I John 4:8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is Love.

Please visit us at Piney Church of Christ, Rhinehart Parkway, in Spencer, at 10:30 Sunday morning worship and 6:30 p.m. Bible Study.