Love from the Inside Out
Philadelphia is known as the "City of Brotherly Love." Its name comes from the Greek words phileo (love) and adelphos (brother)—the vision William Penn had for a place where people of all backgrounds could live together in peace. It was a noble vision, rooted in kindness and goodwill.
But there is a love that reaches deeper still.
The Apostle John, writing to the early church, speaks of this deeper love—the love that doesn’t merely act kindly, but gives of itself completely. He writes:
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
— 1 John 3:16 (NLT)
John uses a different word for love here: agape. This kind of love isn’t just about outward acts. Agape is love from the heart. It’s selfless, sacrificial, and pure. It’s the Father’s love that moved heaven to earth, that stretched out arms on a cross, that conquered sin with mercy.
Yes, phileo love matters—kind actions, polite words, friendly gestures. But agape love is more than action; it’s intention. It’s the motive behind the movement. You can fake kindness. You can pretend affection. But agape? That cannot be faked. It is born in the heart, by the Spirit of God.
As followers of Christ, we are not called to love halfway. We’re not called to perform kindness to look good. We are called to love from the inside out. True Christian love begins in the heart and overflows into our words, our time, our generosity, even our sacrifice.
Agape love is what drove Jesus to the cross. It’s what sent the apostles into danger and death to spread the good news. It’s the love that still fuels the mission of the Church today.
If you ever wonder about your salvation, look to agape love. Do you see its evidence in your heart? If you’ve been struggling to share the gospel, ask God to fill you again with His love—for it is His love that compels us. This is the love God has for you. This is the love He grows within you. This is the love the world is desperate to see.
With Gratitude, Pastor Jesse
