Love Never Fails

By Jennifer Fancher

And the greatest of these is Love. Love is the foundation of Christianity. But how do we put into practice such a complex and deep emotion? This book is a tool to help bring understanding to each aspect of Love found in 1 Corinthians 13, as well as providing methods for practical daily application. Love is not easy, but it is always the right path and it is always worth the effort. I pray that this tool will be beneficial to you and bring you closer to God, closer to the Loves in your life, and one step closer to heaven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781635756425

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Jennifer Fancher

Love Never Fails

ISBN 978-1-63575-641-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63575-642-5 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Jennifer Fancher

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1:

Love Defined

Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I Love (William Shakespeare).

How many times have you found yourself using the word Love today? I Love that shirt, I Love chocolate, I Love that song, or I Love you. This four-letter word that once described the height of human emotion has been reduced to an expression of simple positive feeling. I would like to take some time to pick it up, dust it off, and place it back on the pedestal where it belongs. Before we can gain a deeper understanding of Love, and learn how to apply this understanding to our lives, we need to know what it is. That is the purpose of this study.

The English language has combined all of the different attributes of Love into one word. Merriam-Webster defines Love as A feeling of strong or constant affection for a person; attraction that includes sexual desire; the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship; a person you Love in a romantic way.

The Greeks, I think, were a little more on target in their definition. They understood that such a profound emotion could not be contained in one word.

Here are four different Greek words used for Love:

Agape—brotherly Love; the Love of God for man and man for God

Eros—love between a man and a woman (Romantic in

nature)

Phileo—love between friends; Affectionate regard

Storge—love between parents and children

I would like to focus on Agape and Phileo. While the other two have their place and are very important, without a good understanding and diligent practice of the first and third, you can never hope to attain heaven.

And you shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30–31).

To begin this study, I would like to journey with you through the Word of God and study a few Scriptures that the Lord uses to define and describe Love. As He is the Author and Perfector of Love, He is the one that explains it best. This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, and I encourage you to study on your own and provide more Scriptures for further discussion.

27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 "But if you Love those who Love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.

35 But Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:27–36)

"Let Love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be