February is upon us and that means "LOVE" is in the air. Don't believe me? Well look at it this way. Wednesday, February 14 is what day? Well, of course, it is Valentine's Day. We all know what that means! (And guys, if you don't you are in big trouble!) Also, consider this. Saturday, March 4th is the Main Street Church of Christ's annual "Agape Dinner". As we all, no doubt, have been taught by now, "agape" is an English transliteration of the Greek word for "God-like love". "LOVE" is indeed in the air!
The truth is, however, we ought to, as Christians, focus on "LOVE" 24/7/365, and certainly not just one time in the lone month of February. Love is the centerpiece of Christianity. This is true because of what we read in 1 John 4:8 (NKJV): "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." With that admonition it becomes clear that love is the supreme test of whether one is a true Christian or not! Indeed, the Apostle Paul wrote the following to the Colossians, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." (Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV)
So what is it about agape, "God-like love", which distinguishes it from all other types of love? It is the motive of the heart. Biblical love is not just an emotion, but rather an act of the will generated out of the influence of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the sincerity of the heart. That is the test administered by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV) as he writes: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." That is a test we, as Christians, dare not fail!!!
After that test, the Apostle, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NKJV) describes how Biblical love acts (love is a verb, not a noun): "Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
After one takes this acid test and examines his heart and the way he loves, he will know wheter he truly loves with a Biblical love or not, and whether he is a Christian or not. Enjoy the "LOVE" that is in the air in February and while you are at it, keep the "LOVE" of God going forth throughout the remainder of the year as well!!! God Bless!!!
In His Loving Service,
Vernon