The Blueprint for God's Love
God’s love is immense and so multi-faceted that we could write volumes. Just keeping it brief is going to take more letters than just
one, so with your grace we will do a series of “Love letters” to you. (We are capitalizing Love to differentiate agape [God] Love from
pathos [emotional] love or phileo [friendship] love)
God’s Love [agape] is divine unconditional expression of mercy and grace to us, as well as compassion and blessing for us. The
first scriptural use of the word love occurs in Genesis 22:2 “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou
lovest…” (Genesis 22:2a) God commands Abraham to take Isaac, who is God’s literal and symbolic promise of posterity, and give
him up to be sacrificed in faith. Abraham is called the “father of faith” because he proved that his love for God took priority over all of
his human relationships, including the “son of Promise”. God’s Love for us and the Love we exhibit to others include the essential
elements of sacrifice and faith. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-17) This is God’s example of Love to us, and it includes supreme sacrifice
and faith. As we walk in Love, these same essentials of sacrifice and faith are displayed, “as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:1-3) It is evident that as we walk
in love [both receiving and giving]; sacrifice and faith will be walking with us.
We see a blueprint for this Love walk demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 13. The KJV translated the word “Love” as “Charity.” We left it in
the following quotes to give a greater emphasis on the giving and sacrifice nature of agape.
Our speech is the first place love demonstrates itself in our Christian lives. Even the most “inspired and influential” voice is
eventually nothing but noise without the Love of God as its source. “ 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and
have not charity [Love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
The second area of importance is the combination of Love with wisdom and faith. No matter how Knowledgeable or clever a
person is [or even how spiritual they become], Love is the key ingredient in making every gift and ability powerful, useful, and
enduring.
“2And 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, and have not charity [Love], I am nothing.”
Love is also the key ingredient in making the good works and benevolent programs we participate in works of God rather than just
good works. “3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity
[Love], it profiteth me nothing.”
Love is at direct opposition to pride and envy. “4Charity [Love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [Love]
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
Love cannot be involved with gossip and slander. “5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
The power of love is demonstrated in faith. [Love] “7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” All
of these responses to “things” are the hallmark actions of Love.
Love lasts longer and is more memorable than the gifts it produces. “8Charity [Love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
Love is a symbol and a result of maturity in our Christian walk. “11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” “12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face
to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” A mature Love-walk will result in being known for our
unconditional Love toward others.
To reiterate, the greatest force in our relationship with God and man is our capacity to receive and give Love. “13And now abideth
faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [Love].” “Love never fails.” To the extent we fail in our
Christian life and in relationships with others, is the extent we are not walking in Love.
WE LOVE YOU!
Love In Christ,
Gregory & Linda Emler
God’s love is immense and so multi-faceted that we could write volumes. Just keeping it brief is going to take more letters than just
one, so with your grace we will do a series of “Love letters” to you. (We are capitalizing Love to differentiate agape [God] Love from
pathos [emotional] love or phileo [friendship] love)
God’s Love [agape] is divine unconditional expression of mercy and grace to us, as well as compassion and blessing for us. The
first scriptural use of the word love occurs in Genesis 22:2 “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou
lovest…” (Genesis 22:2a) God commands Abraham to take Isaac, who is God’s literal and symbolic promise of posterity, and give
him up to be sacrificed in faith. Abraham is called the “father of faith” because he proved that his love for God took priority over all of
his human relationships, including the “son of Promise”. God’s Love for us and the Love we exhibit to others include the essential
elements of sacrifice and faith. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-17) This is God’s example of Love to us, and it includes supreme sacrifice
and faith. As we walk in Love, these same essentials of sacrifice and faith are displayed, “as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:1-3) It is evident that as we walk
in love [both receiving and giving]; sacrifice and faith will be walking with us.
We see a blueprint for this Love walk demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 13. The KJV translated the word “Love” as “Charity.” We left it in
the following quotes to give a greater emphasis on the giving and sacrifice nature of agape.
Our speech is the first place love demonstrates itself in our Christian lives. Even the most “inspired and influential” voice is
eventually nothing but noise without the Love of God as its source. “ 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and
have not charity [Love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
The second area of importance is the combination of Love with wisdom and faith. No matter how Knowledgeable or clever a
person is [or even how spiritual they become], Love is the key ingredient in making every gift and ability powerful, useful, and
enduring.
“2And 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, and have not charity [Love], I am nothing.”
Love is also the key ingredient in making the good works and benevolent programs we participate in works of God rather than just
good works. “3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity
[Love], it profiteth me nothing.”
Love is at direct opposition to pride and envy. “4Charity [Love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [Love]
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
Love cannot be involved with gossip and slander. “5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
The power of love is demonstrated in faith. [Love] “7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” All
of these responses to “things” are the hallmark actions of Love.
Love lasts longer and is more memorable than the gifts it produces. “8Charity [Love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
Love is a symbol and a result of maturity in our Christian walk. “11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” “12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face
to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” A mature Love-walk will result in being known for our
unconditional Love toward others.
To reiterate, the greatest force in our relationship with God and man is our capacity to receive and give Love. “13And now abideth
faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [Love].” “Love never fails.” To the extent we fail in our
Christian life and in relationships with others, is the extent we are not walking in Love.
WE LOVE YOU!
Love In Christ,
Gregory & Linda Emler
