Love

Today I read Ephesians 5:2 where it says "Walk In Love". In doing a little research, that word love refers to the love of John 3:16 (For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life) which is agape love... unconditional love. How often we love conditionally! But then I looked at I Thess. 4:9 which says, "But concerning brotherly love....you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." The first use of love is the love of brothers; a fraternal affection (phileos love). But the second use of love is the same as the love in Ephesians and John...so God calls us to a higher calling of love. Not just a friendly love but an unconditional love...agape...just as Jesus loved. Romans 5:5 uses the agape love when it says, "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." So our helper (the one who comes along side us - the Holy Spirit) pours out this unconditional love so that we will see the higher good of the other person no matter what He does. It is a self-giving love, gives freely without asking anything in return (can we say unconditional?) not even considering the worth. It is more a love by choice than the brotherly love mentioned above (phileos) which is love by chance. It refers to our will rather than emotions. It refers to the unconditional love God has for the world. Agape love is a manifestation of growth in the Lord.