Practical:-
Divine Love
Bro. Enoch Reuben Muniah, Johannesburg
How does one define ‘Divine Love’? Anything divine is considered deific, seraphic or angelic. Love may be described as deep affection, endearment or adulation. Love is expressed in many forms: fondness, infatuation, devotion and so on.
Divine Love is a concept whereby love from a higher spiritual source is shown to mankind in one form or another. It is a sacred love from a deity and as believers, we experience that love from God the Father. The scriptures teach us that God is love. That is the very essence, character and attribute of God. The apostle John in his first epistle tells us, that God is love (1 Jn. 4:8). We are talking about the ‘Agape’ love of God.
Human Love
In the world of secularism, there is ‘Phileo’ the friendship kind of love between two persons. David and Jonathan were the best examples of such love. It is also the kind of love between parents and children.
Then there is the 'Eros’ kind of love between two lovers. Eros was presumably a Greek god of love and fertility (cupid) and Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and sex as was Venus the goddess of love and sex of the Romans and Diana of the Ephesians. At times this ‘erotic’ love becomes erratic, if not neurotic, then tommyrotic and eventually chaotic.
But God’s love fails not. It is love divine, all love excelling! I’d like us to look at Divine Love in three aspects viz: The love of the Father, the love of the Son and the love of the saints. We shall begin firstly with the love of the saints, then the love of the Son, followed by the love of the Father.
THE LOVE OF THE SAINTS
The apostle John again reminds us in the gospel of John to love one another; for love is of God (1 Jn. 4:7). The Lord Jesus tells us to love one another as I have loved you for by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one to another (Jn. 13:34 & 35). The Lord Jesus says it is a new commandment.
In the Greek context, it would be in the imperative mood. It is a command and is not optional. It is not surprising that the disciple ‘whom Jesus loved’ (i.e.: John) speaks so much of the Love of God. John, who loved the Lord so much that he leaned on Jesus’ breast at the last supper (Jn. 21:7 & 20). We are called upon to exhibit that divine love of God both in our conduct and character.
John continues, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11). To us as the saints, His love is unquenchable (SoS. 8:7); His love is constraining (2 Cor. 5:14); His love is immutable, unchanging (Jn. 13:1); His love is indissoluble, an enduring love (Rom. 8:35).
THE LOVE OF THE SON
The love of Christ to the Father. “Because He hath set His love upon me, therefore will I deliver Him: I will set Him on high because he hath known my name” (Ps. 91:14). “But that the world may know that I love the Father” (Jn 14:31).
The love of the Son to the Church. Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 5:25). As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love” (Jn. 15:9). The testimony of the Father, “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). The love of the Son is to those who love Him. “He that hath my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loves me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (Jn. 14:21).
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER
“Behold what love, Agape love, what boundless love, the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons (children) of God” (1 Jn. 3:1). What an awesome privilege to be called children of God. But there is also the prospect, that we shall be like Him. "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”, (1 Jn. 3:2). Then, there is the purity of God’s children. “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. ” (1 Jn. 3:3).
Pure in Thought – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever thing are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
Pure in Word. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29).
Pure in Deed. “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Tim. 5:22). G&P
