There are different terms for love in Greek. The word “fileoo” means the natural human affection, with its strong feeling, or sentiment. And the word “eros” expresses the sexual love which springs from the instinct and sexual desire of man; while the word “agape” denotes the highest and most perfect kind of love. This is the divine love which is prepared to sacrifice itself for the poor, and even for its enemies, implying a clear determination of will and judgment, and belonging particularly to the sphere of Divine revelation.
Christ gave his life as redemption for the sinners in this divine love. However, Paul speaks of this love in the practical lives of the followers of Christ, as he had already written: “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
The divine love does not lie, because it is upright. It tells the truth in the way of wisdom and mercy. Hypocrisy is not good, as the Bible tells us. We have to confess our sins in certain cases before people that no pride or boasting may remain in us. We must confess our love to Jesus, for he alone justified us by his great atonement.
The divine love hates the evil for which our conscience scolds us, and which the word of God considers as unclean, lying, crooked, and unjust. Love does not agree to such behavior, but supports all purity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, and righteousness.
The divine love educates us in the love of our brothers and sisters in the Lord, in bearing with them all without complaint, and in looking after them. All our service and talk must be sincere and warm, in order that others may feel that we really love them. The mutual respect between the husband and his wife is included in this list.
If anyone serves the gospel, by word or writing, his service is to be performed in a spiritual fire, even in the midst of opposition, and he must be firmly established in the guidance of the Lord.
He who experiences failure must not lose the hope that Christ is the Victor; and he who confronts sufferings or hardships must go on confidently and patiently, persevering in prayer with faith, without any doubt. The Lord answers our crying for others and for ourselves.
If you see your brothers in the faith suffering, you should sympathize with them, and partake of their troubles. Likewise, as soon as they come to you to glorify your Father, joyfully open the door to them and the Lord will multiply your bread if you satisfy those who were hungry for his name. He is present with all those who love him.
If anyone violently persecutes you, bless him in the power of blessing. Do not curse those who curse you, but ask the Redeemer to deliver them, as the believers in Damascus did when Saul came near them to torture them and lead them as slaves to Jerusalem. The Lord then stood in Saul’s way and broke his pride entirely.
When the blessing of the Crucified, who has been raised from the dead, is realized, the other believers rejoice and become encouraged in faith, because they see the victory of Christ and its results. But when someone weeps over straying neighbors, we must partake of his sufferings. Do not be ashamed of tears.
Try hard to be one group in the church as the family of God. Do not think first of money, honor, authority, and advantages of this world, but live with the poor and the hopeless, as Jesus lived with many of the sick, the demon-possessed, and even the dead.
Do not think of yourselves as more educated or higher than others, but ask the Lord of the harvest to work among you in the congregation of the church, healing, comforting, saving, and bringing perfect solutions.
Be cautious not to quarrel. Bear with one another with patience, for the Lord is one, his atonement is one, and there is no substitute for his Spirit. Do not behave as if you create a better salvation. We are all living from the grace of the Father and the Son and the Spirit of his love.