Matthew 22:37 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.

The Greek word for love here is agapao. It is a call for us to love God. It is a verb. Verbs are action words. The word itself cannot be separated from how it acts. The corresponding actions are not distinguished by the act but by the author of the act.

How can we distinguish one expression of love from another? Psychology Today calls out seven different names for love. Each one is distinguishable in use because the author of the act is human. Those expressions are conditioned upon human interaction. Nothing listed entails acts towards God.

Matthew 22:37 calls for us to act in a manner towards God that expresses our love for God in three areas of life. The heart, mind and soul are asked to act in a manner which reflects an all-in condition. Nothing is to be withheld.

The human condition has expressed itself in a manner that tells us that we are not experienced in giving our all. We begin life as selfish babies incapable of caring for ourselves. We grow up with desires that drive our actions in seeking self-satisfaction. We are taught to compete, to succeed, to advance and the driving force behind most of those action is based on our desires.

“The Spirit of revelation has used it (agape) to express ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the NT.” Vine’s quote

Now that we have the indwelling Holy Spirit some expressions of love are acts performed by the Holy Spirit. Which ones are authored by us? How can we comprehend that agape love?

Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Continuing on where we left off yesterday, identifying our place in a church body is performed by the love that abides within us. Love edifies itself because the head, Jesus Christ, knows best how each part will edify those connected parts.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines Edification used as a verb in this way: Edification, Edify, Edifying: lit., “to build a house”

(a) usually signifies “to build,” whether literally, or figuratively; the present participle, lit., “the (ones) building,” is used as a noun, “the builders,” (in some mss.; the most authentic have the noun oikodomos); 

(b) is used metaphorically, in the sense of “edifying,” promoting the spiritual growth and development of character of believers, by teaching or by example, suggesting such spiritual progress as the result of patient labor. It is said

(1) of the effect of this upon local churches,

(2) of the individual action of believers towards each other,

(3) of an individual in regard to himself, where it is translated “emboldened,” the Apostle uses it with pathetic irony, of the action of a brother in “building up” his brother who had a weak conscience, causing him to compromise his scruples; “strengthened,” or “confirmed,” would be suitable renderings.

We must not enter in to a new church meeting with an attitude of what we can do for this church or what can this church do for me. We should recognize that the abiding love of Christ will work in each member, including ourselves, to supply that which is needed to build upon what is already there in them and in us. We build together.