Love has become a somewhat ambiguous word in the 21st century. We associate love with a feeling and often direct it toward wealth, status, or things. However, the Biblical understanding of love is much more profound. The word love comes from the Greek word “agape,” meaning a deep sense of affection, goodwill, benevolence, and brotherly and sisterly love. This type of love is a verb. It is active, and it’s on the move. It’s a love that we should show to both our enemies and our neighbors. It is essentially a love that is selfless and sacrificial.
Before Jesus encourages His followers to love, He describes a disciple as someone who bears much fruit. Fruit can look different in our lives. Fruit can come in the form of freedom from the battle of addiction. Fruit can come from relationships that mutually encourage one another in the Lord. Fruit can also come from a growing sense of gratitude and joy. And at the root and foundation of fruit is an active love. In other words, you cannot bear fruit without receiving and putting God’s agape love into action for others to experience and see.
So as you continue to journey with Jesus, ask Him to help you receive and grow in your love for all so that you might bear fruit, fruit that will last and reveal you to be His disciple.