Loving Like YHWH

When Abba laid this topic on my heart as the subject for an article for this week's edition, to be honest, I didn't know where to begin.  I don't have a good track record in the relationship department . . . and that's how I perceive the word, love.  As He has shown me, it's so much more than that.  We are called to love, even when there is no relationship!  We are created in His image, and He is love.

So many songs, so many poems, so many articles written about love.  Yet, so few really have any idea what love truly is.  I looked up the word, LOVE, on my handy WordWeb.  Here is what I found.  It is both a verb and a noun.  The antonym was listed as hate, but I don't think I really agree with that, or I should say, there are more antonyms than that one!  I, personally, believe indifference is an antonym of love, as in simply feeling nothing at all.  I also believe fear is an antonym based upon I John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Verb
1. Have a great affection or liking for
2. Derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
3. Be enamored or in love with
4. Have sexual intercourse with

Noun
1. A strong positive emotion of regard and affection
2. Any object of warm affection or devotion
3. Someone who is loved (used as term of endearment)
4. A deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction
5. A score of zero in tennis or squash
6. Sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people

And then there is G-d's love!  We are told in I John that YHWH is love.  So clearly, some of these definitions may give a glimpse of the kind of love that He is, but these definitions only scratch the veritable surface, and many of these definitions may actually be quite misleading.

Next, I took my search to Scripture.  The Greek term for G-d's love is agape and the Hebrew term is ahavah.  In both languages the word begins with the first letter and that seems quite significant.  Without love, Paul says we are nothing, so the first or the foundation must begin with love.  I also discovered when Messiah Y'hshuwah said we are to "love our enemies" the term, agape, was used rather than phileo.  Phileo is the kind of love that expresses human approval.  Messiah used the two terms in his sermon on the mount, so he clearly meant two different things.  G-dly love can show compassion without lending approval or seeking approval.  G-dly love, agape, is not necessarily a two way street.  Phileo is described more as brotherly love, or approval, which is where the Philadelphia gets it's nickname, the city of brotherly love.  The base word is from that Greek term.

I do love people, but I want to love them the way Messiah loves them.  I want others to see the love of our Creator in my life.   I'm just learning to be expressive in this area, truly expressive, so this is just scratching the surface.  I can be demonstrative in my love for Abba and for others, but to simply be love is another matter.  It's so much easier to show love than to be love.  I can cook my grandkids' favorite dishes, plan their favorite activities, and I can show compassion even to strangers, but to simply be love has been challenging.  As a self-described human doing, rather than a human being, I've always tried to show love.  Finally, resting in Y'hshuwah Messiah, in hearing the Voice of our Loving Creator, He's changing my understanding, my expression and my being . . .

The love of G-d is greater than we can comprehend, but the definition of humanity is so limiting and often misses the mark.

He that loveth not knoweth not YHWH; for YHWH is love.  I John 4:8

LOVE

When the subject of this article was first laid on my heart, I thought, "no problem."  I'd just quote I Corinthians 13, and I John 4, and be sure to include the passage about recognizing believers by their love for each other, but Abba had a more personal experience in mind, and I've learned a lot . . .

First and foremost, when it comes to humans, love is not necessarily a two way street.  "Like" is usually reciprocal.  When two people like each other, love can also be part of the equation.  Like and love are not mutually exclusive, however; we are called to love people who don't love us.  We are called to love people, we don't even like.  Love is a choice and a decision.  Messiah stated it quite clearly in Matthew 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Suddenly my nice sweet article about love turned into a real life challenge!  This past week, I seemed to annoy several folk, and they appeared to feel quite free to share that fact with me!  Ah . . . I can feel the love . . . As it turns out, I prefer to love people that love me and if they are going to share their disdain, I prefer them at a distance!  I was going to say I prefer them to share it with someone else, but having now witnessed that in the passive aggression of social media, I've thought better of that idea.  I don't expect applause and rave reviews, but I've received some interesting opinions and comments this week in which I've had to reconsider my response . . .

I was doing pretty well early in the week.  I frequently pray the Psalms and 141:3 is standard.  Set a watch, O YHWH, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.  One individual I deal with on a regular basis had been particularly testy for some time.  I was feeling pretty good about my self-control.  I stopped short of patting myself on the back, but I'm sure you can guess what happened, next.   The pressure went up, and . . . I hit the boiling point.  We are told in Scripture that six is the number of man; so after six days of his bad attitude, I'd had enough of that man . . . and told him so.  I don't swear, I don't really yell, I have a very cold, calculating presence when I've hit my limit.  I don't do anything physical, but I know my words and body language are certainly not reflective of love and comfort.  Perhaps that trait would be warranted if used to defend someone else or defuse a threatening situation, but not when I'm coming out fighting for me!

I'd like to begin this new week feeling like I passed that interesting lesson, but I'm not even feeling like a C-.  I really didn't want to have to go around this mountain again!  I did learned a lot through the week.  By the number of times I thought to myself "k'vetch, k'vetch, k'vetch," as I listened to someone; I would say I still have a lot more to learn.

There are many hurting people in this world, and often simple misunderstandings become all about their pain. That is simply where they are.  In realizing some people are just having a bad time or in a bad place, it's easier to see their attitude isn't about me and simply reach out in love, or . . .stand back in prayer.  Giving a piece of my mind is not the appropriate response to someone's bad attitude.  True G-dly love is frequently not reciprocated, but those who don't return love, are the ones who need it the most.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of G-d; and every one that loveth is born of G-d, and knoweth G-d.  He that loveth not knoweth not G-d; for G-d is love.  I John 4:7-8