Do you love Yahshua? Was your answer a resounding ‘yes’? Or did you have to think about it? Or perhaps you gave a perplexed, ‘of course’ type of reply? It’s a very personal question which no-one can answer for us. “Not even the Bible,” writes A.W. Tozer, “can tell the individual man that he loves [Yahshua].” It’s personal, and extremely important!
These days, the word ‘love’ is used in so many ways, isn’t it? ‘I love this,’ I wrote to my sister recently when she sent me a picture of her newborn great-grandson. ‘I love this,’ said a friend, sampling my soup. ‘I love it,’ chuckled another, laughing at my story. ‘Love you,’ says the phone, the text message, the email, the card. Are we doing the word to death? Does it mean anything anymore?
Do you love Yahshua? How?
The ancient Greeks had at least six words for love, each describing a specific type. There’s ‘agape’ for unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love; ‘eros’ for romantic, passionate love; ‘philia’ for deep friendship, loyalty, affection; ‘storge’ describes the natural love found in families; ‘pragma’ is a practical love rooted in commitment; ‘philautia’ is self-love. I wonder which would be used for a picture, some soup, or a funny story?
The New Testament, written in Greek, primarily uses just two of these: ‘agape’, frequently used to describe Yahweh’s love for humanity, and ‘philia’ used to refer to warm, tender, brotherly affection and deep emotional friendship. Which of the six words would most readily describe the love you have for Yahshua? There’s value in each of them, for love itself is precious, and the capacity we’re granted to give and receive love is invaluable.
As we walk with Yahshua we experience each type of love to some degree, and our love must grow until we’re able to relate to Him in ‘agape’, unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love. Yahshua saw love and obedience as being intrinsically linked, telling His disciples that keeping His commandments would prove they loved Him (John 14:15). “This is the true test of love,” declares Tozer, “and we would be wise to face up to it!”
How do you love Yahshua?
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We look at our lives through a spiritual lens now, as we see how our actions as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, friends and coaches, workers and employers relate to [Yahweh's] will.
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