Anglican Daily Fountain 3 February 2022
TOPIC: Love
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 13(NKJV)
STUDY: Love is an intense feeling of deep affection for a person or thing (Merriam-Webster). Paul used the ancient Greek word ‘Agape’ in this passage. The ancient Greek had four different words we could translate as love. They are:
(i) Eros: This describes erotic, sexual or romantic love.
(ii) Storge: This refers to family love, the kind of love between a parent and child or between family members in general.
(iii) Philia: This refers to brotherly friendship and affection. It can be described as the highest love of which man, without God’s help, is capable of.
(iv) Agape: This is the love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It does not demand or expect repayment for the love given.
Agape love can be defined as sacrificial, selfless giving, absorbing kind of love. It has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.
True love is always demonstrated by action. Love is strong, believing, hopeful and enduring.
Spurgeon calls these four virtues, “Love’s four sweet companions.” We should replace the word love with the name Jesus and the description in our text would make perfect sense. Jesus is long-suffering, kind and gentle. He is not envious, proud, rude, arrogant, does not have cliques, and is not happy with evil. Be like Jesus.
PRAYER: Love is kind, Love is meek and thinks no wrong. God is love.
Therefore Lord, help us to love.
Daily Fountain Quote of the Day
Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Read MFM Daily Devotional 3 February 2022 – Benefits of Faithful Giving (II)
