LOVE




 I LOVE PIZZA!

 

But I really love scallops!!!

 

 

There seems to be varying degrees of LOVE... 

And all lumped into one word. 

 

 

John 13:34–35  A new commandment I give to you:  ‘LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that you also LOVEone another’.

By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have LOVE one to another.

 

 

Unfortunately, our English language is very inept at describing the nuances of LOVE. 

 

 

Out of the 4 words translated “LOVE” in the Greek New Testament, there is one with which we represent our FATHER in HIS LOVE for the world (Jn3:16):

 

 

AGAPAO/AGAPE 

 

 

It embraces the judgement and assent of the will as a matter of principle and duty. 

It is a DECISION OF PREFERENCE…

not a feeling or emotion.

 

 

 

Fortunately for us, the WORD spends quite a bit of effort defining this type of LOVE:

 

1Corinthians 13:4-8 states: 

 

“LOVE IS:

·       PATIENT  (makrothumia – enduring fiery intense passion with which you began)

·       KIND (full of service to others- gentle)

·       DOES NOT ENVY

·       DOES NOT PARADE ITSELF

·       IS NOT PUFFED UP

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Phil2:3)

·       DOES NOT BEHAVE RUDELY

·       DOES NOT SEEK FOR ITSELF

“Greater LOVE has no man than this, that one lay down his life (psuche – mind, will, emotions, ambitions, goals, desires) for his friends” (Jn15:13)

·       NOT PROVOKED

·       THINKS NO EVIL

·       DELIGHTS NOT IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH

·       BEARS ALL THINGS

·       HOPES ALL THINGS

·       ENDURES ALL THINGS

·       NEVER FAILS”

“I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you” (Heb13:4)

 

 

Being engrafted into the vine, Jesus Christ, we bear the same fruit. 

 

“The fruit of the Spirit is 

·       LOVE (agape)

·       Joy 

·       peace

·       longsuffering (makrothumia- see above)

·       gentleness /kindness (meeting real needs)

·       goodness (inherent/intrinsic)

·       faith.” (Gal5:22)

 

 

He IS LOVE. 

 

 

NOTHING “shall be able to separate us from the LOVE of God” (Rom8:39)

 

 

Since great “promises” have been given through which we “might be partakers of the DIVINE NATURE”. (2Pet1:4)…

 

 

As He is with me…

my relationship now with you…

Is non-negotiable. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE FOOD PRAYER

Image
  THE FOOD PRAYER   Paul, on the topic of abstaining from certain foods, explicitly tells Timothy, “…For EVERYTHING God has created is GOOD , and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with GRATITUDE ; for it is SANCTIFIED [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the WORD OF GOD and PRAYER .” (1Ti4:4-5AMP)     Most of us have been taught from a young age to pray for our food. We don't necessarily know “WHY”… BUT WE DO IT… …even into our old age, knowing it is something “proper” to be done, becoming just another thoughtless, religious mantra chanted as a precursor to satiating our appetite.   We have even invented clever, rhyming “prayers” easily remembered and quoted by children. The one my dad taught me:                    “Down with your head… up with your paws… thank the good Lord for the use of your jaws”     Now… was I receiving that bologna sandwich with gratitude?    ...
Read more

THE DAILY LOAD

Image
  THE DAILY LOAD   “Blessed be the Lord Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah” (Ps68:19)   The word, “selah” is used throughout the Psalms and other Hebrew music and poetry as a notation similar to “a rest” in our modern music. However, it indicates a broader word picture of… “to pause and consider or reflect in order to lift up and exalt the topic just sung or played.”   So… that is exactly what I did after reading this verse… I SELAH’D… meditating on each word and phrase to get the thought, intent, purpose, and motive infused into what was said: ·        Blessed – to offer gratitude with a physical expression of submission, humility, and reverence in relationship during prayer and worship. ·        Lord - Adonay – the ONLY ONE with sovereign power, majesty, and undisputed right of decision ·        Daily – day to day to day… ad infinitum [Lam3:22...
Read more

The Perfect Will of God

Image
  The Perfect Will of God   Rom12:2  “…Do not be CONFORMED to this WORLD , but be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of your MIND , that you may PROVE WHAT IS that GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT WILL OF GOD .”   I was always taught that there were three different WILLS of God… And you are placed in one WILL or another determined by your maturity level, your faith, and your closeness to God.   However… let's dissect this verse to clearly see the intent behind each part.   ·        CONFORMED – properly means: assuming a similar  outward  form (expression) by following the same  pattern  (model, mold). ·        WORLD - properly, an  age  ( era , "time-span"),  characterized by a specific quality  (type) of existence ·        TRANSFORMED - metamorphóō - changing form or shape in keeping with a transformed inner reality...
Read more