05/06/10

Know love to know God

1 John 4:12 - No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.


People are lost because they do not know God. They do not know God because they do not know love.

If you ask someone to define love, they could say things like sacrificing for another, being kind for another, giving unto another etc.

One can give all that one has to another but yet not have love existing between them. Even between a mother and child wherein the mother may have sacrificed all her time and energy after the child still true love may not exist between them.

To have true love understanding of the Truth is required.

In the Bible New Testament worldly love is written with the Greek work 'Agapao' <25> but the love between God and man the word 'Agape' <26> is used. And love out of emotion the word 'Phileo' <5368> is used. People normally call Agape as God like of love or just selfless love.

The truth is the only difference between Agape and Agapao is, Agape is selfless love with purpose and the Agapao is love out of emotion. In many translations Agape has been translated as not love but charity.

To imitate God we need to understand when we love another that love should prosper that person. Loving someone with that love not changing anything for the better may have more evil than good in that relation.

For example if the love of a mother does not let a child mature or become self independent then that love may not be love but self gratification of a mother thinking she is going her duty.

We may not please others but we may still be loving that person. Over a period of time love will prove it's self.

Without fruit(s) of the Holy Spirit true love is next to impossible, that's the reason even though it looks simple is yet the most difficult.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, You became a living example of love. Your love may have been manifested on the crucifix but was from the foundation of creation. It is only when You come in glory and man inherits all that You have made available for him will man know your love. Lord, we may not know love but by your Spirit teach us to love our brothers and sisters like You love us...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 5:46
46 For if ye love them which love <25> you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Luke 20:46-47
46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love <5368> greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

John 5:39-42
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love <26> of God in you.

Romans 13:10
10 Love <26> worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love <26> is the fulfilling of the law.

1 Colossians 13:13
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.


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