Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Love, Part 2

There are two Hebrew words that, when translated into English, mean love. One is agapao (verb) or agape (noun). The other is phileo (verb) or philanthropia (noun).

According to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary, agapao and the corresponding noun agape is used to describe the attitude of God toward His Son (John 17:26), mankind in general (John 3:16, Romans 5:8), and those who receive Jesus (John 14:21). It is used to convey His will to His children concerning their attitude toward one another (John 13:34) and toward all men (1 Thes. 3:12; 1 Cor. 16:14; 2 Peter 1:7), and to express the essential nature of God (1 John 4:8). Vine's Dictionary explains the meaning in detail. To summarize let me simply say that agape love is not the love of complacency, or affection. This love is not an impulse from feelings. It seeks the welfare of all; it seeks opportunity to do good to all. It is a deep and constant love with no account if the recipient is worthy of love.

You may not have the time to look up all of the scripture above, but if you want to read an example of agape love I would invite you to read and consider 1 John 4:7-21. We can love (agape) others because God first loved us. God is love and the one who lives in the place, with that kind of love, lives in God and God lives in Him. Amazing Grace, Praise God!!

Vine's Dictionary tells us that phileo or philanthropia represents "tender affections". It is an unselfish love that is ready to serve others. This word for love is used as a warning in 1 Cor. 16:22. It is also the word the Lord used when he asked Peter the third time "Do you love Me?" In essence the Lord was asking Peter "Do you love Me with an unselfish love, that is ready to serve My sheep without concern for yourself?" (John 21:15-17). In the past Peter's concern for himself caused him to deny Christ. It was a totally reasonable question and I think Peter understood what was being asked of him. He was now ready to serve Jesus' sheep selflessly.

It appears to me that both agape and phileo love go beyond a warm feeling. These words represent a love that may not necessarily seem wise or even sensible. It is the kind of love that frees you from keeping accounts of wrongs suffered, or picking up an offense even when it could have been justified. Did you ever love someone so much you simply did not count the cost of loving? Such was a woman from Bethany. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were coming. Jesus is in the home of Simon the leper in Bethany. A woman came and broke an alabaster vial of very costly perfume and poured it over His head. Some of the people in the room got really upset with her, as the perfume was expensive. In fact the Word says it was worth over three hundred denarii. That would have been equal to about 300 days of wages for a rural worker in that time. No wonder they were upset. But she apparently didn't count the actual cost of the perfume or the cost of being ridiculed. It would seem that God the Father revealed to her that she was to pour out that perfume on Jesus, whom she loved (phileo), and so she did so. With unselfish love she was obedient and served the Lord. Jesus responded by rebuking those who criticized her. He lets them know that she was chosen to anoint His body for burial. What an example of love. God loved her so much He chose her to anoint His Son for burial. Her love for God was such that she was confident that she was given a God assignment and responded in total obedience not counting the cost. Amazing love!!

I close with this prayer for you:
"Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are love and it is You who has loved each one reading this devotional so much that You sent Your Son to die and bear our sin. Father, because You are love and You are filled with lovingkindness I would ask that by grace You would pour out upon each the gift of love. May each of us know in a deeper, richer, more meaningful way the love You have for us. May each of us live in such a way that Your love is manifested in us, that we might demonstrate Your love, as we love others every day of our lives by Your grace. Father, we thank you, for the greatest of all gifts is love. I pray in the name of the One we give all praise and glory, Jesus our Lord and Savior." (1 John 4:9; 1 Cor.13:13)

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

In preparing this devotional the following was used:
My Utmost for His Highest
Oswald Chambers; Welch Publishing Company Inc.

The Ryrie Study Bible
New American Standard Translation; Moody Press

Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr.; Thomas Nelson Publishers

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:10-11
10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

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