There is no giving, no shared love, in romantic love. It is all how the other person makes you feel. Think about it!

We talk about "love at first sight." How can this be? We do not even know the other person. How then can we love them, respect them, trust them? This is all nonsense and may lead some day to bitter remorse.

There can be no true love where respect is absent. There can be lust, or a romantic feeling, or some other form of passion, but not true love. How could there be?

The reason there is so much divorce is that people "fall in love." In most instances this attraction does not survive marriage. If the marriage is to survive after the individuals fall out of love they must have character and integrity.

True human love is that between the father and his children or the mother and her children. Sometimes between friends, but never in homosexuality. Homosexuality is lust, not love, as I see it. Homosexuality is condemned by both Testaments.

True human love between man and woman is created as together they face and overcome the problems of life, the sickness and death of one or more of their children, poverty, disappointments of one sort or another. After many years pass these two people become friends in a very deep sense. They really love one another, and the love is not based on their glands or emotions but on respect and friendship.

The first-listed aspect of the fruit of the Spirit of God is love. As we walk in the Spirit, keeping the commandments of Christ, the supernatural, incorruptible, invincible love of God begins to grow in us. This love conquers all. It is the supreme strength, the supreme motivating power of the universe.

God knows this love and dwells in it. Christ knows this love and dwells in it. Satan can never experience such love. He is bound eternally in his self-will.

Jesus said, "As the Father has loved Me so have I loved you. Remain in My love."

And this is just what happens. As Christ is formed in us and the Father and the Son come to dwell in the new creation, the love of God in us flows back to Christ and God and then out to people as the Spirit directs.

If we are called to be a living stone in God's house we will never find fulfillment until God's love in Christ is abiding in us, flowing to God and then to other people.

It is to this role of intermediary that every member of the royal priesthood has been called.

That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so the world may believe you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:21-23—NIV)

To be continued.