Day 3
God is love. (1 John 4:8, 16)
“God is love.”
But what is love?
The word for “love” used in this Scripture is translated agape in the original Greek. As distinct from the other Greek words often translated “love” in English, agape, is unselfish, self-giving, generous and kind. It is a pure love that gives expecting absolutely nothing in return. Its focus is on what is truly and deeply best for the intended receiver. Agape is gentle, compassionate, and empathetic, yet at the same time violently opposed to anything and everything that harms the beloved. Agape is fiercely against sin because sin destroys us—the people of its affection.
This is who God is. He does not love us because we are a certain race, age, sex, or educational level. He does not love us because we hold certain beliefs, are part of a certain religious group, or behave in certain ways. He accepts us as we are and cares for us despite our faults. The horrible messes we make for ourselves do not put Him off. He loves us simply because agape is His nature.
“God is love.” It isn’t just that God loves or that God is loving. Agape has its origin and essence in God. God is agape.
And because God is agape, He is Three in One. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three unique beings in complete agreement and union with each other. God lives together in community. He is, and always will be, a relational and loving God. Just like in a family, the Trinity’s love for each other and for creation is expressed through relationship. Self-giving, other-centered agape is the core of the Trinity.
Some religions have only one God who exists alone; others have many deities who are in constant conflict or competition. But the fellowship of the Trinity—the everlasting life of God—is one of mutual enjoyment and delight, mutual affection and adoration.
Think about it. How could a solitary being love? A deity who exists alone cannot love … because love by definition requires something or someone to love. Love longs for and demands someone to give itself to. Agape shares itself in relationship.
From eternity past, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have been in community—in relationship. They have loved each other. If God were not the Trinity, He could not be love.
The Trinity shares a togetherness that is so pure, so peaceful, so full of joy and freedom that our minds cannot grasp it. God’s shared life of love is the foundation of creation and of our ongoing part in it. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are passionate that you and I be drawn into Their life of love.
God the Father sent His Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Son came willingly to earth to show us the Father’s heart and to make a way for us to live again in unity with God. Jesus said, “As the Father loved me, I also have loved you, abide in My love” (John 15:9). Today the Holy Spirit works in you and me to make God’s love real to us so that we can experience it and share it with others. “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
The Father loves. Jesus loves. The Spirit loves. God is agape.
And He adores you exactly as you are right now. He doesn’t just agape you the way you want to be. He doesn’t just love the perfect-looking you that sits up straight in church. Agape is for you—the you that you wish didn’t exist—struggling, fearful, unbelieving you. He loves the real, total package of you—just as you are right now without promise of change.
Ponder for a Moment
Is there some part of the way you view God that doesn’t seem to fit with agape? If so, describe that view.
If agape were a picture, what would it look like to you? Describe that picture as you see yourself in it.
Imagine believing that God values, treasures and adores you, just as you are right now, without expectation of change. Describe what you feel.