True Love

James H. Cagle
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The Bible (KJV) says, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4: 19).

The phrase “I love you” has fallen into misuse.  It has become so widely used that it lacks the corresponding reality to give it real meaning.  It’s most often used when the word “lust” should more accurately be used.  Its connotations have become many and its original meaning almost completely lost.

We say “I love my truck”, and “I love my dog” with the same devotion that we say “I love God”.  The word “love” is part of the Divine language.  God is love and the word “love” originated with Him.

The word “love” is a powerful word and when used in sincerity by someone who understands its true meaning carries great import.

We may find in many instances that the ones who say they love us the most are the very ones who hurt us the most.  Such love is not true love but mere pretentious or ceremonial love.  Such love is really selfishness and hypocrisy.  Such love victimizes and is abusive.  Exposure to this type of love makes one wary afterward of everyone who says “I love you.”

C. S. Lewis divides human love into four categories: (1) Storge,- affection between members of a family; (2) Philia,- friendship; (3) Eros,- romantic love between people “in love”; and (4) Agape,- the love one has toward God and one’s neighbor.

Though we experience a false love with all its pain we continue to believe in true love and spend our lives searching for it. We are made for love and made capable of loving others because we are made in the image of God. We are capable of knowing and receiving God’s love and we are capable of loving Him in return. Once we experience and know God’s love we know true love and learn how to truly love others.

Satan has perverted every virtue of God to man including His great love.  But we have a faithful witness of God’s love found throughout His Word and demonstrated through the death of His Son on Calvary.  His love is true, sacrificial, unfailing, and eternal.  His love is supported by a corresponding Reality and will heal the hurt caused by untrue love if we’ll receive it (Jn. 3:16).


What is Love?

What is love?

If you know,

tell me now,

‘fore I go.

Is this love?

Vile and crude,

selfish, mean,

using, rude?

Is this love?

Leaving out,

left alone,

fight and shout?

Is this love?

Take then leave,

promise, lie,

can’t believe?

Is this love?

Never there,

never hold,

never share?

God is love.

On that tree,

Jesus died,

just for me.

God is love.

Bringing in,

free’s from sin,

love to win.

James H. Cagle ©

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