Love is a choice
B1 1 John 4:10-11 NRSV In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
B2 Deuteronomy 30:19-20 GNB I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. 20 Love the LORD your God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then you and your descendants will live long in the land that he promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
B3 Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vine - Love
Verb, agapao, G25
and the corresponding noun agape (B, No. 1 below) present "the characteristic word of Christianity, and since the Spirit of revelation has used it to express ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the NT. Cp., however, Lev 19:18; Deut 6:5.
"Agape and agapao are used in the NT (a) to describe the attitude of God toward His Son, John 17:26; the human race, generally, 3:16; Rom 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, 13:34, and toward all men, 1Th 3:12; 1Co 16:14; 2Pe 1:7; (c) to express the essential nature of God, 1Jo 4:8.
"Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1Jo 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, Rom 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, Cp. Deut 7:7-8.
"Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2Co 5:14; Eph 2:4; 3:19; 5:2; Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Gal 5:22.
"Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1Jo 2:5; 5:3; 2Jo 1:6. Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God.
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal 6:10. see further1 Cor. 13 and Col 3:12-14." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 105.]
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.
Love is an action
B1 If we love, there are attitudes and actions that will reveal itself.
B2 These attitudes and actions are in private, as well as, in public.
B3 Love is according to God’s standard, not any other standard.
B4 Love listens without interruption.
B5 Love gives time.
B6 Love can be in a warning.
B7 Love is NOT controlling, micro-managing, etc.
B8 Love has these characteristics:
C1 Very patient
C2 Kind
C3 Not envious
C4 Doesn’t brag about itself
C5 Is not haughty
C6 Doesn’t behave improperly
C7 Is not self-seeking
C8 Is not easily aggravated
C9 Doesn’t keep a list of wrongs
C10 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice
C11 Rejoices in truth
C12 Bears all things
C13 Believes all things
C14 Hopes all things
C15 Calmly endures all things
C16 Never ends
C17 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a WEL Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. 8 Love never ends
C18 Abusers claim they do this, but the abused knows differently.
C19 Abusers demand this of the ones they abuse, but they will not do so themselves. They choose their own standard instead of God’s standard.
C20 Abusers go to hell. (Note, I did not place a comma after the word abusers. Cheers).
C21 Real love by God’s standard is like this: Psalm 31:7 NIV I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. (Note, God notices the troubles and comforts. The abuser is just the opposite).
Love is selective
B1 The highest priority of love is the love for God.
B2 Next, priority is our spouse, then family, then believers, then nonbelievers.
Love is not just mental, but physical, emotional, and spiritual.
B1 See my thoughts here.
B2 Mark 12:32-33 NRSV Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; 33 and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Love must be genuine: Romans 12:9-10 ESV Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
B1 A spouse who abuses verbal, sexually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc. does not love. Any abuse is not love. Abuse is genuine hate.
B2 A spiritual leader or teacher who abuses, micro-manages, or controls does not have love.
Love words in the Bible. Just a few are given.
B1 Bible Words
C1 Hebrew
D1 One Hebrew word for love is חָשַׁק châshaq. It means to be attached, to join together, long for, etc. It is a choice.
E1 Genesis 34:8 ESV But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.
E2 Deuteronomy 7:7 ESV It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
E3 Psalms 91:14 NRSV Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
D2 Another word is אָהַב ʼâhab. It means to have affection for, like, sexual love, etc.
E1 Genesis 24:67 NRSV Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
E2 Genesis 27:14 NRSV So he went and got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared savory food, such as his father loved.
E3 Jeremiah 5:31 NRSV the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule as the prophets direct; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
C2 Greek. The main word is ἀγαπάω agapáō. It means the deepest love of commitment, a love of choice, instead of just emotion. John 3:16 KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A few other verses about love:
B1 Psalm 11:5 NIV The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.
B2 Psalm 23:6 NIV Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
B3 Psalm 36:7 NIV How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
B4 John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that anyone believing in him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Questions
B1 How do I measure according to God’s standard?
B2 Have I showed loved today?
B3 Why is love to important?
B4 Why do we need to love and need love?
No comments:
Post a Comment