Healthy And Growing And Full Of Love

The language in which the New Testament was originally written had many words which are translated 'love' in our English Bibles. But there is one word for love that became a real Christian word and is one of the busiest words in the New Testament. It is used in the text at the top of this page.

This word (agape) is a word describing how God looks at the world. For example John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Galatians 2:20 tells us how Christ lived and died, and John 15:12 tells us how Christians should live as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also a word that has to do with how the church of Jesus Christ goes about its business. If the church we belong to is healthy and growing it will be a church that is full of this love.

The word is special because it involves our heart but also our mind and our will. As Christians we are commanded to love our enemies and to seek the highest good of everyone, even those who may not be good to us! Such love is a God-like love and a God-given love. It must be seen in a Christian family and it is the very life-blood of the church, the family of God. It is how Jesus has loved us and the Holy Spirit helps us to be like him so that we will be a healthy church growing and full of love.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to be full of your love. Amen.