John 15:8-14 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love…. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man laydown his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

In a few days Americans will be celebrating “VALENTINE’S DAY” which has become the second largest gift-giving day of the year. Millions of cards will be sent, Flowers bought and Candy given to other people all in “THE NAME OF LOVE.”

The Cards will have all kinds of messages and poetry expressing “OUR LOVE” for the person to whom we send them, The Flowers are purchased with the hope that the person receiving them will know of our feeling for them, The Candy is given to sweeten the relationship we have with the one to whom they are given. And may God’s mercy be upon anyone who forgets to acknowledge “VALENTINE’S DAY” to the persons they say they love.

All of these things have come to “EXPRESS OUR SUPPOSED LOVE” for someone who is dear to us. However the real driving force behind Valentine’s Day as with most other holidays is money and commercialism fueled by the desire to make large profits off the emotions of people.

In the above verses Jesus said that “HE IS THE VINE” and “WE ARE THE BRANCHES.” He said that if we bear much fruit than we are His disciples indeed. Jesus said the fruit we are commanded to bear is “LOVE.” And Jesus said that the “LOVE” needed to be of the same exact nature of “LOVE” that he exemplified while He was upon the earth.

John 15:12, 13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The Love that Jesus is speaking about is a vastly different kind of Love than what is commonly expressed by all the Cards, Flowers and Candy we send on Valentine’s Day. In fact “LOVE” is the most humanly abused word in English Language.

I have heard a husband or wife say to their spouse “I LOVE YOU” and a few short weeks later they are threatening to leave them or divorce them.

I have heard children tell their parents “I LOVE YOU” and the same day they disobey every rule their parents have given them to follow.

I have heard parents tell their children “I LOVE YOU” and a few minutes later they are heard condemning them, threatening them, hollering at them or abusing them.

I have heard Christians say to another Christian “I LOVE YOU” and a short time later they refuse to talk to them, greet them, acknowledge them in public or worship with them.

I have heard Christians say “I LOVE GOD” with all my heart, soul and strength and a few months later they no longer are serving God and have returned to the ways of the world and the devil.

There have been more songs sung, more letters written, more cards sent and more gifts given in the name of love than in any other name on earth. But, what is commonly called ‘LOVE” is a lower form of love than what Jesus expressed to his disciples. In scriptural Greek language there are “THREE WORDS” which express “THE NATURE OF LOVE.” Our English language is much less descriptive and interprets all three Greek words simply as love. This has led to much confusion.

I John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

PHILENDONOS…. defines the lowest nature of love. This is “SENSUAL LOVE,” which is feelings and emotions, inspired by our natural human senses, (Touching, Tasting, Smelling, Seeing and Hearing.) This nature of love finds its ultimate fulfillment in sexual gratification and earthly desires.

2 Timothy 3:1-6 This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own sleves,… lovers (Philendonos) of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sin, led away with divers lusts.

PHILEO…. Defines the middle nature of love. This is “TENDER HUMAN AFFECTION,” which exists between two people. Phileo is the root word of Philadelphia, which means Brotherly Love. This love is between two family members, friends, acquaintances or Christians. This nature of love finds its ultimate fulfillment in human fellowship, human kindness and acts of human charity.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love (Phileo) thy neighbor as thyself.

AGAPE… Defines the highest nature of love. This is “BENEVOLENCE OF GOD,” which is the very nature of God Himself. This nature of love is humanly impossible without the Holy Spirit helping us. This nature of love is only possible by a person who has been Born Again of God’s Spirit. This nature of love finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Moral Obedience of the Commandments of God.

KING JAMES…. I Corinthians 13:4-8a Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rjoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:…

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD…. I Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own,is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;…

God Himself gave us the “ULTIMATE EXAMPLE” of “AGAPE LOVE” when he stepped off the throne in heaven and became human flesh, then lived on this earth for 33 years never committing sin and became the perfect sacrifice for our sin, shedding his blood, that we might be saved.

John 3:16, 17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus said that everyone who professes to be a Born Again Christian “IS COMMANDED” to display God’s nature of “SELF-LESS LOVE.” This should and must be the ultimate fulfillment of every person who calls upon the Name of Jesus Christ for Salvation. When we fulfill this commandment we finally understand the true meaning of “VALENTINE’S DAY.”

Hebrew 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we… are compassed about with… witnesses… let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith… For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.