“Do You Love Me” is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number three in 1962 and eleven in 1988.

The simple and accepted definition of love is that—love is a complex emotion and behavior that can include feelings of intimacy, passion, and commitment. It can also involve care, closeness, attraction protectiveness, affection, and trust.

In English we have one word to express all kinds of love, in Greek there are four different words for love.

Eros refers to the love found in romantic relationships, passion and intimacy. The word itself is not found in the New Testament. However, the concept of physical love is expressed in the context of marriage and affirmed in the New Testament (1 Cor 7:5).

Phileo means warm affection or friendship. Philo was commonly used with reference to close friends or brothers. It was used in Matthew 10:37 to indicate love for father and mother or son and daughter. Jesus’s love for his friend Lazarus.

Storge refers to the love between family members. It’s a strong bond shared by parents, children, and those close enough to be considered family. It is a protective love that can withstand hardships and trials.

Agape is the sacrificial, unconditional love of God. In the New Testament, agape is the highest form of love. But outside of the New Testament the word was rarely used. Agape is the word used in John 3:16, “God so love the world that He gave His only begotten son”.

The Israelites questioned how much God loved them because of their time in captivity in Babylon. But that captivity was His correction for their continued rebellion against Him. Malachi, the prophet’s opening words from God were, I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2). Isreal replied skeptically, inquiring as to how He has loved them. He reminded them how He had chosen them over the Edomites.

Lucy Van Pelt: “I’m the kind of person who is kind of hard to know, I guess. My personality doesn’t fit right on the surface. The real me is deep. But I’m well worth all the time it takes to understand me. In other words, to know me is to love me.” Peanuts character.

We all go through difficult seasons in life, when we question God’s love for us during them. Many have stopped asking where is God, rather, “Does God love me?