"For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3 :16

The theme for the World Day of Prayer, last month, was "Love in Action". Those who prepared the service, indicated that they understand the theme, Love in Action, as a theme of "diakonia", which means above all, our relationship with the weak, the sick, and with handicapped persons. They wanted to make us aware, of what we can do as children of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

What a wonderful theme. I thought, in this season of Lent when we prepare ourselves spiritually for Easter - when we see the highest expression of "Love in Action", on the cross. But what is love? How can we translate this love into action, if we do not understand fully what the word love means?

There are three Greek words, translated by one English word love. Eros, is a word that has to do with sensual desire. We do not find this word in the New Testament; Phileo is used for friendship for someone who is worthy of our love; Agape is God's love. It is the purest, deepest kind of love. It is that kind of love God revealed to us through our Lord's death on the cross for our sins, and this kind of love He wants to produce in us and through us to others, by his Holy Spirit.

But how can we love with the love that agape expresses? As Christian women, we know that there is no good in us, that the good we do, is only done by God's grace. He is the source of life and love, and to Him we must look for strength. God commands us to love!

"For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." 1 John 3 : 11.

The key word to love is very simple. Jesus gave us a promise: "This is the confidence we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5 :14.

In faith we may believe this, in faith we will love! We cannot love in our own strength. Most people love only those, who are easy to love. By nature we are not patient and kind, nor free from jealousy. Everything about the Christian life is based on faith, that includes to love our neighhour. Now, if God hears us, when we ask anything according to his will, shouldn't we ask Him then to help us to love? To help us to love those we don't like - those we feel indifferent about? When Jesus commands us: "To love each other, as much as I have loved you," than he will help us. He if would not command us to do something we cannot do. If He tells us to love, than He enables us to love. We have to strike out in faith; we have His promise.

Through this love, we will also be able to forgive. To forgive those who have wronged us who have hurt us. That is not an easy thing, but we have to learn to forgive. How can we claim God's forgiveness for us, if we are not willing to forgive? The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians: "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." You see, love and forgiveness go hand in hand. And how wonderful it is, to know that you are forgiven.

So often, it is fear that keeps us from loving others. For when we love - when we give ourselves in love, then we are very vulnerable, and that's a scary thing. Fear is a fundamental reality of life. We may be experiencing it in many different ways. Even in our closest relationships we are 'not free from fear - between husband and wife, sister and brother, children and parents, friend and friend. There is fear among groups, working together; fear not to achieve the goal, or to be outdone by competition. There is fear not to get the job to make a living; fear of those who do not share our believes; fear of suffering and death. Each one can add here what we are afraid off, whether as individuals or as groups.

But - "There is no room for fear in love", we read in 1 John 4 : 18, because, "love banishes fear". When is the message "fear not" not an empty word? When the person speaking, fear not, is trustworthy. When Jesus says: "Fear not", than we need not fear. He will stick with us. We have to start at home-base, to love and to forgive and to get rid of our fears. Only then, can we show compassion for those in need as individuals or as a group.

Our age is an age where great progress has been made. It is also an age where the suffering of people, suffering in body and soul has increased. In the midst of all this, people have experienced that the power of love, coming from Jesus Christ who came to share our joys, our suffering and our sorrows was as fresh for them as in those days when it was written for the first time: "There is no fear in love, love banishes fear." By faith we will love and thus be part of a continuous flow, of giving and sharing with those in need, and to strive together to find ways - familiar and new ways for "Love in Action".

LOVE to you all, and a Joyous Easter.