Freelance writer Lupie Riley
Thought: In the 70's I wrote a devotional column for our local newspaper in Erie, Colorado. The February devotional went something like this:

WHAT IS LOVE ?
There are four common uses of the word LOVE.
1. Philia---as in friendship 2. Storge---as in natural affection 3. Eros...as in sexual love 4. Agape...as in a spiritual bond of love

We should be able to distinquish the difference in these four kinds of love. It is the Agape love that reaches out to all mankind. This kind of love was demonstrated by Christ and his friendship with the hated tax collector, the diseased, the harlot and those of questionable reputation. We cannot love our enemies through human effort. It has to be a supernatural love as the person of Christ lives his life through us.

GOD IS LOVE and anyone who lives in love is living with God and Christ is living in him. What good is it to love those who love you? The real test is loving those who hate, curse and hurt you. The ultimate act of love is dying in a friend's place (John 15:13). Jesus was not crucified for a crime he committed but willfully gave himself as our substitute for the consequences of sin. Our punishment for disobedience was bodily death and spiritual seperation from God but Jesus took that punishment for us so we could be reconciled with God and live eternally in Heaven. Christ was God's supreme sacrafice for all those he loves. LOVE isn't just a philosphy or a way of life, it's a real person found in a personal relationship with Jesus.

Prayer: Father God, you demonstrated what real LOVE is like through the bodily sacrafice of Jesus and I now have forgiveness for all of my bad decisions. I am free to live out my life according to your plan and purpose with the promise that you will never leave me alone.

Verse: I John 4:16-17 "God is LOVE, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him. And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete: so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face him with confidence and joy, because he loves us and we love him too."

Married 58 years, four children, nine grandchildren and three greats.  I've been a freelance writer for over 40 years.  Working on a book at the present.  My priorities are God first, family, country. Look me up on Google search by my name Lupie Riley, click on first link. Faithwriters.com