What is Love?
The general definition for love is:
1. A deep feeling of affection for someone.
2. A great interest or pleasure in something. (like a sport.)
The Bible has a slightly different definition, that can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
God loves us with a love called “Agape” love. Derived from the Greek, Agape denotes a selfless, unconditional love. Agape love is the purest, highest form of love. 1John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God, and that is what we are!”
God the Father gave us His Son, Jesus, as our example, showing and teaching us agape love. 1 John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus calls us His friends. He not only laid down His life for us on the cross but rose victorious so we too will rise again.
We are all sinful, and cannot love with the perfect love that Jesus models for us. But we can love others, the best we can, by following Christ’s example. Jesus also gave us the command in Matthew 22:37-39 to: “Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus loved the unlovable. Who may need our love today, especially when no one else shows them love? Go and show God’s love to others today.
Written by Pauline H, Christian Growth Committee
(Scriptures taken from the NIV)
Serving in His Strength” is a blog
published by the Member Development Committee of
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada, Inc.
Lutheranwomen.ca
2026