February 2025 – Love Is Bigger

February 2025
 

LOVE IS BIGGER
 
Dear Friend in Christ:
 
In many nations, St. Valentine is remembered and honored as a Christian martyr. However, many details of his life are not fully known. After all, he lived more than 1,700 years ago in the small town of Terni, Italy, where he served as a Bishop for the Diocese there. He is thought to have been martyred on February 14, 269 A.D. Over the centuries, his life has been identified with generosity, compassion, and love. In our times, the Feast of St. Valentine has become primarily centered around romantic love and a lucrative greeting card industry. Throw in some chocolates, flowers, Italian food, and you’ve got yourself a fine party. 
 
But “love” as we know it in 2025 is often a pale and shallow imitation of the highest and greatest love of all: the love between God and humanity. Too often, our definition of love centers on ourselves and our momentary moods and pleasures. True love, according to Scripture, is eternal and enduring and flows from its original Source, Who is God Himself. Love is the biggest and greatest force in all of the universe. God is love (see 1 John 4; John 3; John 13-17; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 16:14).
 
I like how U2 puts it in their song: “Love is bigger than anything in its way.”  In fact, I believe love finds a way. Love makes a way. Love is the way. Love is not only a lifestyle, but a life. Love is light on the darkest night, and it is hope in a hopeless situation.
 
Of course, I am not speaking about any old casual kind of “love.” I’m addressing God-sourced, Jesus-lived, Holy Spirit-empowered love, the kind of love that is rooted, modeled, and sustained in Him. And if we are to survive 2025, we all will need that love from Him and we will need to show that love to the people He has placed in our lives.
 
Our classic go-to passage regarding this kind of love is 1 Corinthians 13 …
 
“Love suffers long (patience) and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:4-13).
 
Commenting on this passage two years ago, I wrote:
 
“Some of you know the word in the original Greek language of the New Testament for this kind of love is ‘agape.’  It is a selfless, eternal, unshakable love. Agape is only found and can only be rooted in relationship with God, Who is love. We cannot enter into the fullness of agape with one another until we are walking in agape with God.
 
FOUR LOVES
Though Agape is the highest form of love, author C.S. Lewis discusses four types of love found in the Greek language, which is the language of the written New Testament. Just as there are many words for “snow” in the Eskaleut languages of upper North America, so too are there several specific words for love in the New Testament Greek which address the attitudes, context, and meaning of the specific types of love being expressed. 
 
Rather than me trying to re-write Lewis in depth, let me briefly summarize and invite you to read his book “The Four Loves” for yourself. Lewis believed each of these were valid and significant expressions of love.
 
Storge – a love held within the bonds of affection and empathy; able to love and relate beyond weakness or sin. The love of a parent for a child would be a type of Storge love as would the grace to identify with someone in their pain.
 
Philia – a love rooted in friendship; a love for people outside of your own family that is like a love for a sibling. It often happens among those who share common values, activities, interests and time together. 
 
Eros – a romantic or sexual type of love; it is being “in love” with a specific person. This is love that is not only physically expressed but done so in the bonds of trust and commitment. (Lewis contrasts Eros with what he terms “Venus” which is an expression of raw sexuality and focus on self rather than relationship.)
 
Agape – a selfless, unconditional, giving, supernatural love; it exists and endures, transcending circumstances or convenience. This is the specific kind of love mentioned and defined in 1 Corinthians 13. God in Christ is the perfect expression of Agape.
 
Of these four loves, three are natural and even corruptible–Storge, Philia, and Eros–while Agape is supernatural, sustained by God Himself, and incorruptible. 
 
In the 1980s, the rock band Foreigner recorded a unique power ballad, “I Want to Know What Love Is,” with the New Jersey Mass Choir. The song, propelled by compelling, searching lyrics, plus the tour-de-force vocals of Lou Gramm and that heavenly choir captured the hearts of listeners worldwide.  It rocketed to Number One on the singles charts and became an enduring standard. 
 
John Elefante is a renowned vocalist, songwriter, musician, and producer who had been a member of rock legends Kansas band before launching his own band, Mastedon. John heard Foreigner’s heartcry and wrote an answering song called “This is What Love Is.”
 
Suffering the world’s rejection
Sacrifice and resurrection

This is what love is

This is what love is

And in this world we live in

There are no guarantees

But there’s one thing I’m sure of:

He died and rose for me

His love has surely stood the test of time
 
“This is What Love is” by John Elefante (Copyright c 1995)
 
Later, Lou Gramm put his faith and life in the hands of Jesus and recorded the song “We Need Jesus” with John Elefante and Petra. It was a joy and honor to interview John Elefante a few years ago and hear that great story firsthand. 
 
Singing of God’s love is always healing and encouraging for me.  Songs like “Here is Love,” “The Love of God,” and so many others always bring my focus back on Jesus and my “first love” in Him. (see Revelation 2:1-7). We need to do more of that.
 
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY, DAD AND MOM
This month is especially poignant for our family. Valentine’s Day will mark the one-year anniversary of my Dad’s passing. My Mom passed away on February 13, 2008. I want to share a story from my daughter, Victoria Grace, about a beautiful conversation she had with my Dad the day before he died. 
 
I’m going to tell you a story about Valentine’s Day. Many years ago, my grandfather was invited to a Valentine’s Day banquet. He needed a date, and someone set him up with the daughter of a doctor. They went to the banquet and had a nice time. My grandfather said she seemed like a really good person, kind and patient. So he kept seeing her after the banquet. Eventually, he asked her to marry him. She said yes. They spent many wonderful years together. They liked to go boating and see the coast. My grandfather said those were some of his happiest memories. One day, however, she was diagnosed with cancer. So my grandfather did everything he could to make sure she got the best care. He even took her to get treatment in Houston and in South Korea. When she couldn’t go get manicures and pedicures, he learned how to paint her nails himself. Eventually, however, Granna passed away, on February 13, 2008. Then, on February 13, 2024, I sat next to Grandpa and asked him about a lot of these things. He told me that my grandmother was a beautiful woman and that he wished he could have told her more often. I had a feeling he would be telling her she was beautiful soon. The next evening, on Valentine’s Day, he passed away. As difficult as it is for those of us left behind, I’m glad Carolyn and Charles are together again.
 
GATLINBURG FAMILY REUNION INVITATION
Since Dad passed, we have been focusing on our mission, “Restoring the Generational Bridge.” This is an urgent, critical need in our nation and across the Church. Our 2025 CSM Gatlinburg Family Reunion will take place April 29-May 1. Our speakers this year include Bishop Mark Chironna and Evangelist Ronald Gray, as well as yours truly.  I hope you can join with us! Our times of worship will be led by the Abundant Life Church (Mt. Juliet, TN) worship team. Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains in Spring is a beautiful place to be. 
 
For more registration information, visit our website: csmpublishing.org. Our times together are all-too-rare lately. Derek Prince said, “The purpose of God is born in fellowship.” We know this will be a significant time on the mountain together. Invite a friend and your church leadership and we will make them feel warmly welcomed.
 
Also, please continue to remember us in your prayers and giving this month. The past year has been a season of discovering who feels called to continue onward with us in mission. It’s the biggest and most challenging transition for us in the history of our ministry, but by God’s grace, we march on. 
 
We are releasing two classic inspiring messages by my Dad that have NEVER been released in a digital format before: “The Challenge to Venture Out (Four Lepers)” and “Jonathan and His Armor Bearer.” 
 
Thanks so much for walking with us in these days. We love you!
 
In Jesus,
 
Pastor Stephen Simpson
President 
About the Author:

Stephen Simpson

STEPHEN SIMPSON is the Editor of One-to-One Magazine and the Director of CSM Publishing. In addition to publishing ministry, Stephen has served in leadership for churches and ministries in Costa Rica, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, and Michigan, as well as being the Senior Pastor of Covenant Church of Mobile (2004-2013). He continues to travel in ministry across North America and in other nations.

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