What is real love?

As I go about the street ministry we are setting up in Queensland I am very fortunate in that I get to meet a wide variety of people from all walks of life. I have also been fortunate enough to have been invited overseas to preach [Penang, Malaysia}. One of the things that stands out no matter where I go is that the one thing that most people are seeking is love,real love. But some people say I already have that, I've been married or with my partner for years. What more do I need. If that really is the case why then do people often keep changing partners [both married or non-married] with such ease. We tend to find that some of the reasons are: one of the partners no longer recognises their partner as the one they met, their partner no longer satisfies them, they tend to believe they can do better, they no longer seem to communicate satisfactorily or they just feel plain trapped. We tend to have what feels like a big hole in our stomach that nothing seems to fill. We start to find that the material things of the world no longer matters.

There are three types of love that are available for us to receive and they are

1. eros - worldly love - always conditional - always trying to find it in many different ways - in
a lot of cases just out of reach
2. philo - brotherly love - to love another as we love ourselves - can be very hard to do
3. Agape - which is God's love - freely given in grace [undeserved]

So what is Love? According to the Angus & Robertson Dictionary/Thesauruswe see it is

"to have a great attachment to and affection for"

"God's benevolence attitude towards man"

so we see great attachment and affection , as well as benevolence attitudes are factors in love. Attachment and affection are well understood but what is benevolence

"to do good", "an act of charity" [in other words free]

So we see that there is a real love, one that can fill us up and satisfy us all the time not just part of the time. It's here for usfor all time, we don't have to struggle to look for it, it's not hard to find , we don't have to a be a University Professor or a Doctor, a Judge, a Lawyer although if we are that's all right too. I ride a motorcycle like a lot of my friends and we found this all encompassing love I am talking about. so it's there for all and all we have to do is ask. Think about it, it is the one thing in the world that doesn't cost. God loves all of us and His book the Bible is full of verses and chapters where Love is the theme.

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. love each others as
brothers and sisters." 1 Peter 3:8

"most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of
sins." 1Peter 4:8

"Don't pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is
good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other."
Romans 12:9-10

We as a people in he most case I think would say that we have learnt how to be courteous to others, to speak kindly, avoiding hurting people's feeling and even be able to pretend to an interest in what is happening to them. Be indignant when we hear of an injustice. But God says we should be real and to show genuine love, not to be just hypocritical or polite just to get what we want out of someone. It means giving up your time and talents to help other people to become better people

In John 3:16 - 17 we are told "For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only son. so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world but to save the world through Him."

Sitting here I can't help but to think just how deep and all encompassing the love of God is. I know that no matter what I do I don't deserve that love given so freely and lovingly. If you are a parent could you give up your child to save someone else. I know I couldn't I'm not even sure that in my own strength I could love some of my neighbours as God does. I am sure that at times I still envy, I'm sure I still see fault in people, but I know that the love I need to fill me and envelope me is already mine, it's called the love of God and makes me part of His family, for He has told me so and He has proved it over and over in many different ways.

So if you are looking for that something you just don't understand or that you fill is missing in your life, let me suggest that maybe take out the old Bible and start reading and let God talk to you. If you don't have one then I am sure your local Church can help you out.

Mal