Article written by: Edna Ellison
February
AND JESUS SAID, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER”(JOHN 13:34-35)
When someone mentions the word “Love”, most of the time, the first thing that comes to the mind of humans is romance. The second thought may be our children. The Bible speaks of four different kinds of love. One kind is Eros (Air-ohs) which is romantic, intimacy between male and female. Another kind of love is Storge (Stor-jay) the bond or affection we have with our family. Philia (Fill-ee-uh) is a love that we have with our friends, a deep friendship. The last and most spiritual one is Agape (Uh-gah-pay) love. This is unconditional “God” love, sacrificial and pure love. Agape love is the love that Jesus is referring to when he says, “to love one another”. I once read a devotional entitled “Love is a Person” by the author Keith Giles. He mentioned that love is not a concept, it is not a feeling, but he said, according to the Bible love is a person, and that person is God. Agape love is based on the character and nature of the one who is loving, not on the one who receives the love. We find it hard to love when we have been wronged or hurt. God has given us instruction on how to love. I found scripture after scripture on the subject in the Holy Bible. We can do nothing in our flesh (Romans 7:18). Only through the Holy Spirit can we love as God has instructed us to do. When we have been hurt so deeply and we may feel that it is impossible to forgive, and much less, trying to love the perpetrator. God’s word says above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. (1st Peter 4:8) That is Agape love. Through the Holy Spirit, we choose to love as God loves and we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us to love like Jesus. “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, and it does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres” (1st Cor 13:4-7). Therefore, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4: 7-8.
Words of Wisdom: Make it a daily practice to love like Jesus loves us.
Grandmothers, we must practice Jesus’ love before our children and grandchildren then they will find it much easier to accept and trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Suggested weekly activities with the grands!
Week 1: Remind your grandchildren at every opportunity that they are loved. Call them and tell them “Jesus Love you” and briefly discuss an example of how Jesus loves them.
Week 2: Encourage your grandchildren to call you when they are anxious about a test or anything that they are concerned about so that you can pray with them. In addition, you can also mail your grandchildren a valentine card. (thinking about a person in a happy way shows love.)
Week 3: Share a “special moment” picture with them and tell how that picture make you feel loved. Practicing family love is important and peaceful.
Week 4: Remind your grandchildren that if their friends have trouble or concerns that they themselves can pray with their friends. In addition, you can have a brief story-time with them and use a story from the Bible that showed love for others.
And if possible, set up a time to call your grandchildren daily to pray with them with their parents’ permission if they are the younger ones (not adults).
Helpful SCRIPTURES- And it is written…
John 13:34-35 (KJV) “And now I give you a new commandment love one another as I have loved you. So, you must love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.”
1st John 4:8(NIV), “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
Matt. 22:37-39 (KJV), “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
John 13:35 (NIV), “They will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”
1st John 3:11 (KJV), “The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another.”
1st John 4:12-13, “No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another God lives in union with us, and His love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in union with God and that He lives in union with us, because He has given us His spirit.”
Eph. 4:2-3 (NIV), “Be completely humble and gentle be patient bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
1st Peter 4:8 (NIV), “Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
1st John 3:18 (NIV), “Dear children let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1st Cor 13:4-7 (NLT), “Love is patient love is kind Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.”
Grandma’s Prayer: Touch and agree with me Matthew 18:19
Dear God,
Thank You for Your love, thank You for Your mercy, Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for Your indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us into all truths that You have given in Your word. Lord we praise You, we magnify Your name, we glory in You Lord.
Lord we realize that there is no good thing in this flesh, our best is as filthy rags. Father we yield to You, to Your Holy Spirit to guide us into all that You would have us do. Thank You for teaching us how to love. Thank You for reminding us that You are love and that Your love is made perfect in us. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength in the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen!
A beautiful song to share with others and to teach “love” to the grandchildren:
Love God, Love Your Neighbor – Dale Sechrest – lyric video (with all my heart)
Article, activities, and prayer by
Edna Ellison
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry
Board member