Month: January 2026

​In our modern world, we are bombarded with a version of “love” that is almost entirely driven by Eros. We see it in movies, hear it in chart-topping songs, and feel it in the “spark” of a new relationship. But as Christians, we often wonder: Where does this intense, romantic passion fit into a life of faith?

​What is Eros?

​Eros (pronounced AIR-ose) is the Greek word for romantic or sexual love. It encompasses:

• ​Attraction: The physical and emotional pull toward another person.
• ​Passion: The intense “fire” or chemistry that characterizes romance.
• ​Desire: The longing for emotional and physical intimacy.

​While the word eros doesn’t actually appear in the New Testament (the writers preferred agape or phileo to emphasize God’s nature), the concept is woven throughout Scripture. God is the architect of romance; He didn’t just create us for survival, He created us for delight.

​Biblical History: The Garden and the Song

​The history of Eros begins in Genesis 2. When God presented Eve to Adam, Adam didn’t give a clinical handshake. He broke into poetry: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!” That was the first spark of Eros—a God-given recognition of beauty and connection.

​The most profound look at Eros is found in the Song of Solomon. This book is a beautiful, sometimes startlingly graphic, celebration of romantic love between a husband and wife. It teaches us that:

1. ​Eros is good: It is a gift meant to be enjoyed.
2. ​Eros is exclusive: It is a “sealed fountain” meant for the covenant of marriage.
3. ​Eros is powerful: It is described as a “flame of the Lord” that many waters cannot quench (Song of Solomon 8:6-7).

​The Anchor: Ephesians 5:25

​Passion without a blueprint eventually burns itself out. That is why Paul gives us the ultimate “gold standard” for romantic relationships:

​”Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her.” — Ephesians 5:25

​While Eros is about desire, this verse introduces Agape (sacrificial love). For Eros to be healthy and lasting, it must be anchored in sacrifice. If you only love your partner because of how they make you feel (Eros), your love will falter when the feelings fade. But when your passion is guided by a commitment to serve them as Christ serves the Church, Eros becomes a beautiful, lifelong flame.

​Reflection: Is Love Leading You—Or is God?

​Eros is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. When we let our “feelings” or “attractions” dictate our moral choices, we often end up in places God never intended for us.

Engage in the conversation now as we learn from each other now.

​Consider these questions today:

• ​Does my romantic desire draw me closer to God’s standards, or does it tempt me to compromise them?
• ​Am I seeking the “feeling” of being in love more than I am seeking the Person who is Love?
• ​Am I willing to submit my passions to the lordship of Jesus?

Storge love is the love that exists naturally within families. It is not built on romance or friendship, but on relationship, responsibility, and commitment. It is the love that holds families together through seasons of joy, struggle, and growth.
Storge love is expressed through:
Natural affection
Responsibility
Patience
“Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise.” — Ephesians 6:2
Family love is God’s design. From the beginning, God placed people in families so love could be learned, modeled, and lived out daily.
Biblical Examples of Storge Love
Joseph and His Brothers (Genesis 45)
Despite betrayal and rejection, Joseph chose forgiveness. Family love taught him endurance, and reconciliation restored what was broken.
Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16–17)
Ruth showed family loyalty beyond blood ties—choosing commitment, care, and responsibility even in hardship.
Jesus and His Earthly Family (Luke 2:51)
Jesus lived in submission and honor within His family, showing that family structure and love matter to God.
STORGE REFLECTION
Family love teaches forgiveness and endurance.
It teaches us how to stay, forgive, and keep loving even when it’s uncomfortable.
Sadly, many families today have lost storge love. Scripture reminds us that:
📖 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” — John 10:10
The enemy is against settled families. His aim is to replace love with anger, peace with competition, and unity with division. Many homes are filled with:
Wrath and unresolved anger
Strife and unhealthy competition
Self-centered living instead of shared responsibility
In some families, success becomes individual—wealthy siblings ignore others, and love is replaced with comparison. Often, these issues begin early, during childhood.
When parents are constantly busy chasing money or survival and neglect affection, guidance, and presence, children grow up emotionally alone. They learn life from outside influences instead of loving instruction. Knowledge is picked up without proper nurturing.
A Call to Parents — Both Mother and Father
Raising children is not the responsibility of the mother alone.
The belief—common in many African settings—that child-raising belongs only to the mother must change. Both parents are equally responsible for nurturing, disciplining, and loving their children.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” — Ephesians 6:4
When both parents are present, intentional, and guided by God’s Word, children grow into responsible, emotionally healthy adults. Homes built on love and God’s guidance raise children who know how to love, forgive, and lead well.
We must remove every limitation—cultural, emotional, or spiritual—that prevents love from reigning in our families.
💭 Let’s Open the Conversation
How do you show love at home?
What changes can strengthen family love in your environment?
How can parents and children work together to rebuild storge love?
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ

CONVERSATION STARTER:
“Not everyone around you is your friend.”
Philia love is the kind of love we experience in friendships. It is not based on convenience or entertainment, but on connection and character. True friendship grows where there is:
Trust
Loyalty
Shared values
📖 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17
Key Truth
Friends are not those who only make you laugh,
but those who help you grow.
The Bible reminds us that friendship is intentional. To have good friends, we must also be friendly.
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” — Proverbs 18:24
However, not everyone finds it easy to open up. Some people struggle to greet first or make friends quickly—not because they are unfriendly, but because of past hurts, rejection, or betrayal. This is something we see in both timid teenagers and adults.
In moments like this, friendship requires borrowing from agape love—the love of Christ. Showing patience, kindness, and understanding can help someone slowly move past painful memories and learn to trust again. Sometimes, being a friend means creating a safe space, not demanding instant connection.
Philia love is warm, intentional, and supportive. It doesn’t rush people, and it doesn’t pressure them—it grows over time.
Let’s Open the Conversation
Do your friendships push you closer to God or pull you away?
What qualities do you value most in a true friend?
How can we show Christ-like love to people who struggle to open up?
Your thoughts may help someone see friendship in a healthier way.
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

Part 1: Agape Love — Love That Gives Without Conditions
One reason love feels confusing today is because we often mix different types of love or expect one type to do the work of another. The Bible and life both show us that love has different expressions — and each has its place.
The foundation of all true love is
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16
Agape love is God’s kind of love. It is unconditional, sacrificial, and freely given. It doesn’t wait for perfection, repayment, or approval. Jesus didn’t love us because we were good — He loved us because He is good.
Jesus expressed agape love through His life and death:
He loved sinners before they repented
He forgave those who hurt Him
He gave Himself even when it cost Him everything
This is love without conditions.
What Does Agape Love Look Like in Real Life?
Agape love shows up in everyday choices, not just big moments:
Choosing to forgive someone who didn’t apologize
Showing kindness when it’s not deserved
Loving people even when they can’t give anything back
Standing by someone in their weakness, not just their success
Correcting in love, not out of anger
Agape love doesn’t mean accepting wrong behavior — it means loving people without withdrawing care. It’s love that says, “I choose you, even when it’s hard.”
For teenagers, agape love looks like:
Resisting peer pressure to harm or mock others
Showing compassion instead of joining gossip
Loving friends without using them
For adults, agape love looks like:
Loving family members through conflict
Being patient in marriage and relationships
Extending grace in leadership, work, and community
Agape love sets the standard for every other kind of love. When we understand agape, we stop demanding that people meet needs only God was meant to fill.
Let’s Open the Conversation
Where have you experienced agape love in your life?
What makes agape love difficult to practice?
How can understanding God’s unconditional love change the way we love others?
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

The Bible consistently reveals one powerful truth: God is for His people. When God stands for someone, circumstances may resist, enemies may rise, and delays may happen—but His purpose will still prevail.
We see this clearly in the story of Israel in Egypt. God had promised freedom to His people, yet Pharaoh refused to let them go. Despite oppression, resistance, and repeated delays, God remained committed to protecting His own. Through signs, wonders, and judgment, God showed that no earthly power could override His will. When the firstborn of Egypt died, Pharaoh finally released Israel.
This wasn’t just about power—it was about ownership and covenant. God knew how to defend His people because they belonged to Him.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14
God also delights when His children place absolute trust in Him. When we believe that God is truly for us, He moves—sometimes in ways we never expected—to show up on our behalf.
This truth continues in the New Testament.
Jesus reassured His followers that God’s care didn’t stop with the Old Covenant:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31
Peter denied Jesus, yet God was still for him—restoring him, strengthening him, and using him mightily.
Paul persecuted believers, yet when he encountered Christ, God showed that grace could rewrite his story.
The disciples faced storms, persecution, and uncertainty, but God’s presence never left them.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5
God being “for us” doesn’t mean life will always be easy. It means we are never alone, never abandoned, and never fighting battles by ourselves. God knows how to keep His own, guide His own, and defend His own.
Let’s Open the Conversation
What does “God is for me” look like in your everyday life?
How has knowing God is for you encouraged you when you made mistakes?
What is one area where you are trusting God right now and already seeing Him show up?
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

One thing the Bible shows consistently is this: God honors covenant. When God makes a promise, He remains faithful to it across generations.
God’s covenant with Abraham is one of the clearest examples. God called Abraham, made promises to bless him and his descendants, and established a covenant as a sign of that relationship.
“This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you… Every male among you shall be circumcised.” — Genesis 17:10
Circumcision was not just a physical act; it was a sign of obedience, trust, and belonging to God. Abraham believed God, and God honored that covenant.
We see covenant relationships repeated throughout Scripture:
Noah — God made a covenant never to destroy the earth again by flood, with the rainbow as a sign (Genesis 9:12–13).
Moses and Israel — God established a covenant through His law, calling Israel to obedience and holiness (Exodus 19:5).
David — God made a covenant that his throne would be established, pointing ultimately to Christ (2 Samuel 7:16).
In each case, God remained faithful even when people struggled. Covenant required commitment, but God’s mercy always made room for restoration.
Covenant in the New Testament
In the New Testament, God established a new and greater covenant through Jesus Christ.
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” — Luke 22:20
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, covenant was no longer based on physical signs, but on faith and grace.
We see this lived out in people like:
Peter, who failed Jesus yet was restored through grace
Paul, who encountered Christ and entered a covenant relationship that transformed his life
The early believers, who walked daily with God through faith and the Holy Spirit
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Today, our covenant relationship with God is rooted in Christ’s sacrifice. We are not bound by ritual, but by relationship. God calls us to walk with Him daily, trusting His promises and responding in obedience.
This message speaks to every age — whether you’re a teenager learning to trust God with your choices, or an adult navigating faith through life’s responsibilities. God is still faithful. He still honors covenant.
Your thoughts and experiences may encourage someone else who is learning to choose God one day at a time.
We will appreciate your comments to get your feedback on the message.
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” — Joshua 24:15
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
Choosing God is not a one-time decision made at salvation alone — it is a daily choice that shapes our direction, character, and future. God does not force Himself on anyone; instead, He lovingly invites us to walk with Him and choose His ways again and again.
We see this clearly in the life of Joshua. When God called him to lead Israel after Moses, Joshua faced fear, responsibility, and uncertainty. Yet God gave him a clear instruction:
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night… then you will be prosperous and successful.” — Joshua 1:8
Joshua chose obedience. He stayed committed to God’s Word, and as a result, he enjoyed God’s grace and clear direction throughout his leadership. At the end of his life, he boldly declared that no matter what others chose, he and his household would serve the Lord.
We also see this pattern in the life of Joseph. As a young man, Joseph chose to honor God even when no one was watching — in temptation, betrayal, and hardship. His obedience didn’t remove challenges, but it positioned him for God’s grace and favor. In God’s timing, Joseph was given wisdom to interpret the king’s dream, and that same faithfulness led him from prison to becoming prime minister in Egypt.
Both Joshua and Joseph remind us of an important truth:
Grace meets us when we fall, but obedience keeps us aligned with God’s direction.
Choosing God daily doesn’t mean life becomes easy — it means we are guided, strengthened, and sustained by the Holy Spirit, especially when the right choice is hard.
Let’s Open the Conversation
What does choosing God daily look like in your everyday life?
How does God’s grace encourage you when you make mistakes?
What is one area where you are trusting God for direction right now?
Your thoughts and experiences may encourage someone else who is learning to choose God one day at a time.
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

i will like to hear your views in the comments…

Above all ,, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — PROVERBS 4:23

The Bible shows us that choices don’t begin with actions — they begin in the heart, with thoughts, desires, and intentions. What we allow into our hearts quietly shapes the decisions we make every day.
A clear example is Daniel. While still a young man living in a foreign land, surrounded by pressure to conform, Daniel “resolved in his heart” not to defile himself (Daniel 1:8). Before any action followed, the choice was already made in his heart. That single decision shaped his future and his testimony.
Just like Daniel, the influences around us — music, friendships, social media, and thoughts — can either strengthen or weaken our ability to choose well. Small thoughts grow into big actions, and peer pressure or the environment often targets the heart first by appealing to our desire to fit in.
God cares deeply about who we are becoming, not just what we are doing. When the heart is guarded, choices begin to reflect God’s purpose.
Let’s Share and Learn Together
What influences your choices the most right now?
Can a “small” choice really affect your future? How?
What does it mean to guard your heart as a teenager or adults today?
Your comments can be a source of encouragement and added insight for someone else.
Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” — Exodus 23:2
‎“Fear of man will prove to be a snare.” — Proverbs 29:25
‎Many wrong choices don’t start with bad intentions — they start with the desire to fit in, be accepted, or avoid rejection. The pressure to please people can quietly pull us away from our values and from God.
‎Popularity often looks attractive, but choosing approval over principles usually leads to regret. Being accepted by people does not always mean we are walking in God’s will. Sometimes, the most godly decision we can make is simply to say “no.”
‎Even Jesus experienced rejection. He was misunderstood, criticized, and opposed — yet He remained faithful to God’s purpose. This reminds us that standing for what is right may cost us popularity, but it keeps us aligned with God.
‎Let’s Talk — Open Conversation
‎Have you ever felt pressured to do something you knew was wrong?
‎Why do you think it’s hard to stand alone when everyone else is going a different direction?
‎How can faith in Christ help us handle peer pressure and people’s opinions?
‎Your comments can be a source of encouragement and added insight for someone else.
‎Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ 🤍

‎“The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

‎“To obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22

‎“A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” — Psalm 51:17

‎These verses set the tone for one of the most thought-provoking stories in Scripture — the story of Saul and David.

‎Saul became the first king of Israel under unique circumstances. Israel demanded a king so they could be like other nations. God allowed it, but Saul was largely the people’s choice, not God’s original desire. At first, Saul looked the part — tall, strong, impressive. Everything on the outside seemed right.

‎But over time, something became clear: Saul struggled with absolute obedience.

‎Even when Saul disobeyed God, he still tried to look spiritual. He offered sacrifices, made excuses, and claimed good intentions. Yet his heart often leaned more toward pleasing people than honoring God. This eventually led to God rejecting him as king — even while he was still reigning.

‎At the same time, God chose David through the prophet Samuel — quietly, privately, and based on the heart, not appearance.

‎What’s interesting is this:

‎David also sinned — deeply. He failed God in serious ways. Yet David found reconciliation, while Saul did not.

‎Why?

‎David repented. Saul explained.

‎David humbled himself. Saul defended himself.

‎David cared more about God’s presence. Saul feared losing people’s approval.

‎There’s also a powerful warning here:

‎The same people who once demanded Saul as king later sang,

‎“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

‎If you live for the applause of people, it can turn just as quickly. Chasing human praise can cost us God’s presence.

‎This story invites us to reflect — not just on leadership, but on our own hearts.

‎Let’s talk about grace as we end this conversation:

‎Why do you think David found restoration while Saul didn’t?

‎What does this teach us about repentance versus performance?

‎How do we guard our hearts from valuing people’s approval over God’s presence?

‎Grace doesn’t ignore obedience — but it meets us when our hearts truly return to God.

‎Let’s encourage one another as we grow together in Christ