What is love?

Verses for study: John 21:15-17, Matthew 5:43-48

The term "love" is used hundreds of times each day. We all love our friends, our family, our favorite TV show, even pizza. It seems so easy for us to "love" these things. But the Bible tells us that we are to love each other including our enemies. How can we love someone whom we don't even like?

The New Testament uses four different greek words that are translated "love" in english. They are Storge which is the affection one has for their family, Phileo (philia) which is the affection one feels for their friends, Eros which is romantic love, and the last is Agape which is the unconditional love God has for us. The first three loves are based on feelings. The last term is based on the act of being loving regardless of whether one deserves it or not. True love is an action and not a feeling. If we truly love someone we are to do kind things for them. Even when someone is unkind to us we are to be kind to them.

Prayer: Dear Lord Thank you for your unconditional love for me. Please help me to love others the way you love me, with actions and not just feelings. In Jesus name, Amen.

What is sin?

Verses for study: Romans 3:23, Matthew 5:48

We have all heard the term bandied about in the media, at church, or on the street. Usually the term is greeted with hostility and resentment along with the usual attack on those first bringing the subject up. Quite often the term is used without a true grasp of what it actually means. All we know is that it is a religious term that stands for something really bad.

The Bible says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) The original Greek word translated as sin is hamart'ia which means to miss the mark. The glory of God is His perfection. Matthew 5:48 says "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So the mark that we have missed is perfection. Everytime we miss the mark of perfection we are being disobedient. Sin is being disobedient to God. So a proper interpretation of Romans 3:23 is "for all have (been disobedient to God) and fallen short (of His perfection).

Prayer: Dear Lord- Please forgive me for my disobedience to you. Help me to study your word with an interest and a desire for understanding. I know that what you tell me to do or not to do is for my own good and the good of those around me. In Jesus name. Amen.