The Definition of Love
Tyler Thornton
As we continue on this journey through Advent season, we have and will continue to explore the concepts of hope, peace, joy, and today, love. Love is at the heart of the Christmas story and you simply cannot celebrate Christ coming into the world without reflecting upon the essence of God’s pure, unfailing love. The Gospel of John beautifully encapsulates this divine love, declaring, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV). It is this unfathomable love of God, expressed through the birth of Jesus, that serves as the cornerstone of our faith and the very reason we celebrate this season with joy and reverence.
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it's easy to lose sight of the profound importance of love. We can use the word numbingly to end conversations over the phone or to describe how much we enjoy our favorite foods, but love is more than that. Advent calls us to pause, reflect, and allow the love of God to permeate our beings. Love is not merely an emotion; it is a force that moves disciples of Jesus to action.
The Greek word agape is often translated “love” in the New Testament and it is used to describe a love that goes beyond that of romantic sexual love, or close friendship and brotherly love. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. Agape is almost always used to describe the love that is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God does not merely love; He is love. Everything God does flows from His love. It is the love of God that compels us to love one another, just as He has loved us (1 John 4:11, NIV). In our fractured world, love has the power to heal wounds, bridge divides, and bring hope to the hopeless.
This Advent, let us be agents of God's love, actively seeking opportunities to share this divine gift with our neighbors, friends, and even strangers. Let us be vessels of love, reflecting the light of Christ in the darkest corners of our world. As we journey through this season of Advent, let us be mindful of the ways in which we can embody the love of Christ in our daily lives. In doing so, we participate in the ongoing story of God's love unfolding in the world.