An Unnatural Love

Today's Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

What jumps out immediately to me is verse 14 where Paul says to the readers, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." He uses the word "agape" for love, which is, when you understand the word, an unnatural way to act...at least for me. The New Testament uses other words for love like "philos" which is kind of feeling "warm and fuzzy" about someone. There is another Greek word for family love which is the love you have toward your children. There is also a Greek word of sensual love which is not used in the New Testament. All of these come naturally, but "agape" does not. It is the way that God loves and it remains unnatural to me until I become more like Him.

When you read these verses, Paul is telling church people how they ought to act toward one another. Look at the words he uses..."compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiving one another, teaching and admonishing one another, do all in the name of the Lord." All of this requires agape which is totally focused on the object which is loved. Paul says love is the glue that pulls it all together. This is what makes it possible.

How do I become like Him so that I too can love as He loves? This answer evaded me for many years until I realized/learned that this is what the Spirit of God helps me do! For years I told people to just do it...do it...do it. They couldn't because you can't just do it, do it, do it, alone. In the second half of Romans 8:5, Paul says, "but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." Living in the Spirit allows us to love as God loves and treat one another as God treats us.

- Jack Van Curen