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Does God truly LOVE us and how can we understand this
love, when life seems to be in such a turmoil, and
all you see is desperation.
The dictionary
defines love as follows:
- 1. profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
- 2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
In the Vine's Expository Dictionary,
we have two words which translate to "love"
they are as follows: |
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- Agape and agapao are used in the NT
(unconditional LOVE)
(a) to describe the attitude of God toward His Son, John
17:26; the human race, generally, John 3:16; Romans 5:8;
and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
particularly, John 14:21;
(b) to convey His will to His children concerning their
attitude one toward another, John 13:34, and toward all
men, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Cor 16:14; 2
Peter 1:7;
(c) to express the essential nature of God, 1 John 4:8.
"Love can be known only from the actions it prompts.
God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John
4:9,10. But obviously this is not the love of
complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out
by any excellency in its objects, Romans 5:8. It was an
exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made
without assignable cause save that which lies in the
nature of God Himself. Deut 7:7,8.
"Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord
Jesus Christ, 2 Cor 5:14; Eph 2:4; Eph 3:19; Eph 5:2;
Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the
Christian, Gal 5:22.
In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the
deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being
towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and
fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the
Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are
partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to
seek the Giver.
- phileo is to be distinguished from
agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents
"tender affection." The two words are used for the
"love" of the Father for the Son, John 3:35 (agapao);
John 5:20 (phileo); for the believer, John 14:21 (agapao);
John 16:27 (phileo); both, of Christ's "love" for a
certain disciple, John 13:23 (agapao); John 20:2 (phileo).
Yet the distinction between the two verbs remains, and
they are never used indiscriminately in the same
passage; if each is used with reference to the same
objects, as just mentioned, each word retains its
distinctive and essential character.
Phileo is never used in a command to men to "love" God;
it is, however, used as a warning in 1Cor. 16;22; agapao
is used instead, e.g., Matt 22:37; Luke 10:27; Rom 8:28;
1 Cor 8:3; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 4:21. The distinction
between the two verbs finds a conspicuous instance in
the narrative of John 21:15-17. The context itself
indicates that agapao in the first two questions
suggests the "love" that values and esteems (cp.
Rev 12:11). It is an unselfish "love," ready to serve.
The use of phileo in Peter's answers and the Lord's
third question, conveys the thought of cherishing the
object above all else, of manifesting an affection
characterized by constancy, from the motive of the
highest veneration.
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Now that we have the
meanings from the Vine's, and the Dictionary, how do we
interpret God's Love for us. We know that life is not
always fair, but becoming a Christian did not mean that life
was going to be a perfect journey. God's love is shown
throughout the Bible, but we also have seen suffering and
tribulation which all, in the Bible have gone through. The
lesson is not if God loves us, but do we love him enough to
live a righteous life. No matter what this life may bring.
If you have children you know that you love that child
so much, you would love to give them the world. But we also
know what happens when you spoil a child, and give them
everything possible. They tend not to appreciate what they
have. This might be one reason why God allows the situations
to occur in our lives.
God in his great love for us, also gave us free
will. With this free will, we may choose to follow God
or not. It is our choice and ours alone, and we are the ones
to suffer the consequences of our decision. We all can feel
the present of God in our lives, but sometimes we shut him
out. Some people act as if they let God into their lives, he might
interfere too much. But we do feel the LOVE of God,
in our families, children, and all he has allowed us to
have. He has put people, finances, home, and most of all
LOVE into our existence. He allows us to awaken every
morning, and gives us peaceful sleep at night. But most of
all he has given his son (John 3:16) to take on all sins and
die on that cross for us.
God does love us, and he wants all of us to be with him
Matthew 18:10-14. He has set a plan for us to come to him,
all we have to do is love him with all our hearts and soul.
Still we will have trials and tribulation, but these test
that God has set for us are to strengthen us and our
dependency on him. Just as Moses followed God without
hesitation, although he had many questions. We must get to
that point, and yes we might have questions about God's plan
for us. But as hard as things get, we must follow without
hesitation and in constant prayer.
Can we feel God's love? Just look at your life and as
the old saying goes "Count Your Blessings".
You might say you're not rich and in debt, well do you have
your family, has God given you beautiful children? Do you
fell God's love from your family, children, and love ones?
Your life might not be perfect, and you might be going
through trials but yes GOD LOVES YOU! Open your heart, eyes
and mind, and realize that you would not be alive if it was
not for God. So the question should not be if God loves you,
but do you love him?
Joshua 24:15 - And if it seems evil to you to serve the
LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in
whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD.”
One final note: If God did not love us, then why would he create us in His image?
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