14/02/2026
DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026
UNDERSTANDING THE LOVE OF GOD
BIBLE READING: GENESIS 25:28; 2 SAMUEL 13:1-17; 1 JOHN 3:14-18; 1 CORINTHIANS 13
"A New Commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My Disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (NKJV)
True Disciples of Jesus understand that having a preconceived notion of the term "Love" can be rather counterproductive. Indeed, love is a word often used but seldom understood, thereby making it one of the most abused terms within the English Lexicon. Agape Love is essentially the Acid Test of our Christian Faith and is the Highest Degree of Love. There are several different kinds of love, with the following being the most notable:
(a.) EROS: This speaks about sensual and sexual love, which is basically the etymological root of the term "erotic." A solid example from the Holy Bible is the story of crown prince Amnon, the eldest son and heir apparent of King David, who r***d his half-sister Tamar after he fell "in love" with her (2 Sam. 13:1-17). This was a case of lust rather than love because afterwards, his "love" was converted to hatred.
(b.) PHILEO: This refers to natural human love, which is always presented with conditions or usually has strings attached (Gen. 25:28). In other words, this kind of love basically says, "I love you because...", just like the case of Isaac the Patriarch's conditional love for his firstborn son Esau.
(c.) AGAPE: This talks about Genuine Divine Love, which the Greek philosophers referred to as "Love from the gods." Agape Love is rightly defined as "a sustained direction of the will for the good of another."
As documented in the thirteenth Chapter of Apostle Paul's First Epistle to the Church in Corinth, there are Fourteen Ways to walk in Agape Love:
(1.) LOVE IS PATIENT (vs 4): This speaks about the forebearing nature of Love, which tolerates or accommodates other people's inadequacies or incompetence. Would you consider yourself patient?
(2.) LOVE IS KIND (vs 4): This talks about the Quality of being generous, consideration and sensitivity to the frailties or vulnerabilities of others (Prov. 12:10). Would you consider yourself kind?
(3.) LOVE IS NOT ENVIOUS (vs 4): This refers to Love possessing and expressing the precious Virtue of Contentment. (1 Tim. 6:6). Envy could be readily defined as "pain or discontent caused by the progress of another person." Would you consider yourself content?
(4.) LOVE IS NOT BOASTFUL (vs 4): Any person who truly walks in Love doesn't prance about, parade himself, steal the limelight or boast about his accomplishments or possessions (Isa. 14:11-20). Would you consider yourself inconspicuous?
(5.) LOVE IS NOT PROUD (vs 4): This refers to Love possessing and manifesting the Golden Virtue of Humility. Pride is indeed an odious vice that always comes before a destructive fall (Prov. 16:18). Are you humble?
(6.) LOVE IS NOT RUDE (vs 5): Any person who is really walking in Love is always polite and courteous (1 Pet. 3:8b). This also refers to good manners and modesty expressed mainly through one's appearance or dressing. Would you consider yourself courteous?
(7.) LOVE IS NOT SELFISH (vs 5): This refers to Love not being centripetal or self-centered but rather putting others before oneself (Phil. 2:3 MSG). A wise person once accurately said that Genuine Joy is found when you focus on Jesus, Others and You. Would you consider yourself selfless?
(8.) LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED (vs 5): Everyone who walks in Love must be slow to anger and not given to outbursts of uncontrollable wrath (Jam. 1:19b). Would you consider yourself even-tempered?
(9.) LOVE IS QUICK TO FORGIVE (vs 5): This speaks about the Quality of being Merciful and not keeping a journal of wrongs suffered (Ps. 103:8-14). Would you consider yourself Merciful?
(10.) LOVE IS INTOLERANT TO INJUSTICE (vs 6): This refers to the Quality of upholding Truth and Righteousness everywhere one goes because Genuine Love is also confrontational (Ps. 45:6-7). Would you consider yourself a defender of the Truth?
(11.) LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS (vs 7): This refers to the Virtue of concealing other people's faults in confidence and protecting their dignity (1 Pet. 4:8). Would you consider yourself trustworthy with secrets?
(12.) LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS (vs 7): This refers to the Quality of believing the best in people even while still anticipating their worst. This involves imagining a worst-case scenario per time (Jn. 21:15-18). Would you consider yourself unwilling to write people off?
(13.) LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS (vs 7): This refers to the Quality of having high expectations of and optimistic thoughts towards people (Jer. 29:11). Would you consider yourself expectant of unassuming people?
(14.) LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS (vs 7): This refers to the capacity to get along well with difficult people or situations for lengthy periods of time (Prov. 24:10). Would you consider yourself able to prevail in the face of unpleasant persons or circumstances?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we glorify Your Holy Name. Thank You, O Lord, for instilling within us the Capacity to love just like You and for enabling us to manifest Your Divine Nature in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.
