Love

I just found out that there are approximately 150 English words that are both verbs and nouns. (You can see the compiled list here.) 150 words. This includes drink, order, fish, address, sting...and love. Some of you may be thinking, "No duh Ashley, of course 'love' is a verb and a noun. Everyone knows that". To which I say to you...I don't think that's entirely true. I don't think everyone knows that. I think oftentimes, we (people...) see love as just a feeling. Like when people say they marry for love, they're usually speaking in terms of how they feel about one another. Granted, this is all my own opinion, but I'm pretty sure if that's the case...love sounds like an awful reason to get married. Because, really now, what's the probability that you will FEEL the same way about a person for the rest of your life? I can probably promise that my feelings often fluctuate. Feelings are pretty conditional. And besides, the dictionary defines feeling as "an emotional state". Well, what does state mean? It means "at a particular time". (Definitions from Oxford American Dictionary) So what I gather, is that a feeling is what emotion you are at a particular time. And the chances of you being all giddy and excited for the rest of your life, regardless of any circumstance, is pretty slim I'd say. But hey, that's just my rationale. 

But, this argument is missing two things. 

1. The Bible uses it as a noun at times...in a better way than the feeling. 

2. Love isn't just a noun. It's also a verb; an action. 

The Bible uses the word "love" as a noun at times. An adjective describes a noun, yes? And adjectives 

are descriptive words, yes? So the majority of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 uses the word "love" as a noun. 

Check it out: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not 

demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about 

injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always

hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." Using "love" as a noun isn't bad! It's good! Paul uses 

it as if it were a noun. Love is a noun! Additionally, this describes the noun as something that doesn't

fluctuate based on changes or conditions. This noun is constant. This is a very different noun than what

many people think of it as...hmmmm.

The Bible also uses it as an action. Because love isn't just a noun--it's a verb too. Go out and love. Go out and love 

on the world. Love through actions. Love through words. Love isn't something you feel. It's something you do. It's 

something you show. 

There are four words for "love" in the greek language. Agape, eros, philia, and storge. The basic run down goes like

this:

Agape: true love, sacrificial love

Eros: Passionate love (like significant others)

Philia: Friendship love

Storge: Affectionate love (like parents to children)

God is our father, our Abba. Storge. 

God is our friend. Philia.

We are His bride. Eros.

God loves us fully and wholly. He sacrificed His son for you, for me, for us. Agape. 

God is love. Love is God. God loves us in every way possible and in the best way possible. 

We are called to be Christ like. We are called to love as He does. I want to focus more on the agape love. When He

writes for us to love, it's the word "agape". We are to love unconditionally. Even if someone is a jerk. Even if

someone lies. Even if someone hates. Even if someone "does something bad". Even if someone makes us angry,

mad, sad. Even if (insert something here). No matter what. Love. Agape. Forgive people. Love people. Care for

people. No matter what. It's hard. I know. He knows. But that's not an excuse. Love people. Agape. 

And remember. That you are worth it. That He died for you. And He loves you. And He forgives you. And you.

You don't deserve it. Neither do I. He still loves us. Agape.