The Greek word used for love—agape—denotes an unselfish affection. The final phrase is the essential one: “as I have loved you.” Have you let God love you? Please don’t hurry past the question.
We don’t love people because people are lovable. The truth is, people can be cranky, stubborn, selfish, and cruel. We love people for this reason: we have come to experience and believe the love that God has for us. We are beneficiaries of an unexpected, undeserved, yet undeniable gift — the love of God. And it is only by receiving our Father’s agape love that we can discover an agape love for others.
So be loved, and then love. Just as hurt people hurt people, loved people love people. So let God love you. This is how happiness happens.
