Love Of Choice

Love Of Choice
Love is tender and affectionate. Love is passionate.
People of old times faced a problem similar to the one we face today in that the surrounding society was so corrupt that “love” often equaled sheer lust.

How can you define true love?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 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 trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Cor 13:4-7 NIV
The language in which the New Testament was originally penned has four “L-words” to express various aspects of love.

Divine Love (agape’)
This is the love that God Commands. It is the ‘love of choice.’
Even if someone does not appeal to us we can still show “agape” to that person—accept him, treat him right, and do all we can to help build up that person in the faith (if a believer) or to win him to the faith (if not).
This divine love “agape,” was talked about in I Corinthians 13.

In an effort to lift the concept above the carnal connotations of love in the seventeenth-century England, chose “charity” to represent it.

Agape’ is the high esteem which God has for His human children and the high regard which they, in turn, should have for Him and other people.
It is God's unconditional Love for us that He sent His Son to die on the cross (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).
Jesus Christ is the personification of perfect Love. Such Love surpasses our understanding (Eph 3:19).

The word “phileo” means "to have ardent affection and feeling"- a type of impulsive love.
But “agape” means "to have esteem" or "high regard." In the memorable conversation between Jesus and Peter, there is a play upon these two words (John 21:15-17). Jesus asked, "Simon, do you love [esteem] Me?"
But Peter replied, "You know that I love [have ardent affection for] You."
Then Jesus asked, "Simon, do you love [have ardent affection for] Me?"
And Peter responded that his love was agape’ love—a love that held Jesus in high esteem and which was more than a fleeting feeling.

Agape’ love indicates the nature of the Love of God toward His beloved Son (John 17:26), toward the human race generally (John 3:16; Rom 5:8), and toward those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21).
Agape’ love conveys God's will to His children about their attitude toward one another. Love for one another is a proof to the world of true discipleship (John 13:34-35).
Agape’ love expresses the essential nature of God (1 John 4:8). Love can be known only from the actions it prompts, as seen in God's Love in the gift of His Son (1 John 4:9-10). Love found its perfect expression in the Lord Jesus. Christian love is the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus in us (Gal 5:22).
Love is like oil to the wheels of obedience. It enables us to run the way of God's commandments (Ps 119:32). Without God’s Love, we are nothing (1 Cor. 13:3). Such Spirit-inspired Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8) but always flourishes.

Physical Love (eros)
Love of physical attraction, valid only when it is between married couples.
Read: Song of Solomon

Family Love (storge)
Love between parents and children.

Brotherly Love (phileo)
Affectionate love. Warmhearted, spontaneous affection, liking. Friendship.
Mentioned in Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
NIV
We cannot have this kind of love for everyone, because our reactions to different types of people are often beyond our control.