To love someone is to have a penetrating tender, passionate affection for another person or persons. Love stems from far beneath the surface; it goes beyond the superficial, external, or obvious. Love is intense thorough and complete. A love like this is Agape; unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love. It's a love that very few men truly have. It's the kind of love that Christians are commanded to demonstrate toward God and others (Luke 10:27).
Love Is More Than Words
When someone says I love you, the hearer is not always considering which kind of love one is referring to. There are different kinds of love. Philia is a deep but usually non-sexual intimacy between close friends and family members. Ludus is a more playful affection found in fooling around or flirting. Pragma is the mature love that develops over a long period of time between long-term couples and involves actively practicing goodwill, commitment, compromise and understanding. Philautia is self love, which isn't as selfish as it sounds. Eros is the one that causes the most trouble because its about sexual passion and desire. Unless it changes into philia and/or pragma, eros will burn itself out, which is the problem when man doesn't take time to examine himself. Lastly, there is Agape love. It is a more generalized love which is not about exclusivity, but about love for all of humanity; God's love.
God's Love Is More Than A Word, It's Love In Action
God's love is the kind of love that kept Jesus on the Cross to redeem mankind.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God's love is a permanent hunger or thirst. "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst (John 19:28). God's love is intense, thorough, and complete. His thirst is for mankind to come to know Him. God's love is the kind that draws one near to Jesus. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44).
Repent! Stay Yoked To Jesus. Abide In Him. "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself (Luke 10:27).