Revelation 2:1 – 5

Love is that famous four-letter word that has inspired countless songs and sonnets. But what is it about this powerful emotion that makes our hearts thump, minds race, and palms sweat? 

“Love is a powerful feeling, and it is often a little different depending on what a person is giving to or receiving from the person who they love,” says Heidi Moawad, MD, an associate editor of Neurology and Clinical Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University.

“For example, maternal love is often protective. And romantic love will eventually also become protective as people grow closer to each other and learn each other’s vulnerabilities, but it doesn’t usually start out that way.”

Falling in love can be a thrilling, emotional experience, but what exactly is happening in your brain when you fall in love? It can feel like your brain has switched to vacation mode without telling the rest of you. Suddenly, logic and rationality seem to fly out the window, and you’re left with a head full of romantic notions straight out of a Disney movie or 90’s rom-com. 

Those feelings are all part of the neuroscience of love. The chemicals that flood your brain can make you feel like you’re on top of the world.

Dopamine stimulates the reward pathways and increases motivation and obsessive thoughts and behaviours to pursue the love interest. Noradrenaline causes the feelings of euphoria, and the physiological responses of a faster heart rate, butterflies in the stomach and increased energy.

It is without a doubt that at sometime, or another we have felt the feeling of love as described. 

Scripturally, we need to have love that transcends feelings and emotions, and have the love that has foundation rooted in forbearance, forgiveness, compassion, and sacrifice.

The Bible speaks about types of love:

  1. Storge- family 
  2. Phileio- brotherly
  3. Eros- sensual 
  4. Agape- unconditional 

There is a call for us the express AGAPE love…