The Greatest Model of Love

Before we dive into and explore the first of the four expressions of love, we need to begin where all true love begins —with Jesus. Yesterday, we established a foundational truth: God is love. He is not just loving; He is the very definition and source of love itself. That means we don’t discover the meaning of love by looking inward to our feelings or outward to our culture. We discover it by looking to Jesus, who is the perfect expression of the Father. Jesus is God made visible, God made approachable, God wrapped in flesh. When we see Jesus, we see God. And when we look at Jesus, we can see what love actually looks like.

As we study each expression of love throughout this devotional, remember this truth: Jesus embodied them all perfectly, without flaw, without inconsistency, without selfishness. Jesus is the perfect model for all four loves. We will see how Jesus displays storge love by inviting us into His family as adopted sons and daughters who belong, who are seen, and who are cherished. Jesus teaches us what a healthy spiritual family is meant to be. Jesus displays perfect philia love by calling us friends. Not servants. Not distant followers. Friends.

And He models what a faithful, steadfast friend truly looks like. Jesus displays eros love in the purest way, through His eternal union with His bride, the local church. The deepest intimacy, oneness, commitment, and delight between Christ and His people flows from this sacred love. And Jesus displays agape love in its fullest form—unconditional, sacrificial, self-giving love that was poured out to the least deserving.

Jesus models love in action. Love is not merely a concept or an idea. Not just a feeling. Not something written on paper, but never lived out. Love moves. Love reaches. Love acts. Love sacrifices. And Jesus showed us that love is not passive. It is lived out in everyday moments, embodied through obedience, compassion, correction, truth, and sacrifice.

So, as we study these four expressions of love, never separate them from the person of Jesus. He is the thread that holds them together and the example that brings them to life. Remember, if it doesn't look like Jesus, it isn't love. In a culture that redefines love as affirmation, comfort, or simply being “nice,” we must remember: real love looks like Jesus. Jesus didn’t tell people only what they wanted to hear; He told them what they needed to hear. Jesus didn’t avoid hard conversations; He entered them with courage and compassion.

Jesus didn’t ignore sin; He confronted it while offering mercy. Jesus wasn’t always soft, but He was always loving. Jesus didn’t choose comfort over truth; He chose truth because truth sets people free. Love without truth is sentimentality. Truth without love is brutality and legalism. But Jesus held both together perfectly, because he is perfect.

Beginning tomorrow, this devotional will explore the four expressions of love: storge, philia, eros, and agape. Each is unique and reveals something important. But none of them can be understood apart from Jesus. He is the model. He is the standard. He is the fullness of love. As you journey through these next readings, ask yourself: where does my understanding of love need to be reshaped by Jesus? Where does my practice of love need to be aligned with His? What would it look like today for my love to look more like Christ’s love?

Because in the end, all true love starts with Jesus, it is shaped by Jesus, and leads us back to Jesus.