Eternally Transformed

Love

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Love ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

Seek the Truth with all your heart.

 

May love and compassion flow around the world like the ocean swell and the wind that do not have boundaries. ​​ May all people respect each other’s cultures and​​ individualisms, and live with caring, sharing, and kindness. ​​ Love is the universal answer. ​​ GOD is Love.

 

1 John 4:8 &16 ​​​​ Whosoever does not love does not know GOD, because​​ GOD is love. ​​ And so we know and rely on the love GOD has for us. ​​ GOD is​​ love. ​​​​ Whoever lives in love lives in GOD, and GOD in them.

 

Love in Hebrew is ahava. ​​ Most Hebrew words can be broken down to a three-consonant root word that contains the essence of the word's meaning.​​ 

The root word of ahava is "ahav." ​​ The term ahav in Hebrew means, ‘to give.’ True ahava​​ - true love - is more concerned about giving than receiving.

Love is a universal language.​​ 

Love in all of its expressions provides answers in so many ways, and in so many situations and aspects of life. ​​ It is what​​ the world desperately needs.​​ 

Love comes to the surface when there is a tragedy which draws compassion – caring – kindness - helpfulness – sympathy – empathy – and supportiveness. ​​ It comes into selfless action.​​ 

Love is an extremely strong bonding quality​​ that can hold many different people together, irrespective of many differences. ​​ As long as the love is strong, flexible, and durable enough to cope with complications, it will survive.

Love yourself and your neighbor, meaning anyone and everyone in the world. ​​ The full meaning of this is that if every person in this world, except one, was well and happy, having everything they needed; then a true Christian could not truly rest, and be in peace, until that one person had their needs met, and was happy.

Loving yourself in the Christian sense, is not selfish; it is self-respect and realizing your own worth in GOD’s eyes. ​​ Seek to live the best life possible, knowing that the results of such a life will benefit you, and everyone with whom you come into contact.​​ 

Prayerfully send love to people. ​​ Love softens, and maybe they have never known or experienced true ‘GOD-ly’ love.  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

GOD expects us to love each other irrespective of any differences. ​​ Giving and being a ‘giving person’ is the expression of love.  ​​​​ 

GOD’s unconditional love is ‘Agape’ love – pronounced ​​ ‘argarpay.’​​ 
It is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love of the soul; and is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. ​​ Agape love perfectly describes the kind of love Jesus Christ has for His FATHER, and for His followers,​​ and is the term that defines GOD's immeasurable, incomparable love for humanity.​​ 

Agape love does not expect anything in return, it is reflected in all charitable acts. It is compassionate love that causes one to sympathize with and for, help, and connect,​​ to people they don’t know. ​​ Showing love by always giving to others, and needing nothing in return, giving all they have, and all they are, to those around them, and being energized by doing so they find beauty in life.

Types of Love: ​​ No. 8 ‘Agape’ is the GOD type of love.

  • ‘Eros’ = erotic Love, which is named after the Greek god of love and fertility.​​ 

  • ‘Philia’ = affectionate Love.​​ 

  • ‘Storge’ = familiar Love.​​ 

  • ‘Ludus’ = playful Love.​​ 

  • ‘Mania’ = obsessive Love.​​ 

  • ‘Pragma’ = enduring Love.​​ 

  • ‘Philautia’ =​​ self Love.​​ 

  • ‘Agape’ = selfless Love = unconditional = no strings attached.

GOD’s unconditional and unchangeable love for every person is such a radical concept that even HIS most devoted followers fail to fully grasp its significance. ​​ GOD’s love is perfect, it is not subject to variation. ​​ Nothing in heaven or on Earth can cause GOD to stop such love. ​​ Unconditional love is bounteous without strings attached.​​ 

The thing that may prevent you from being conscious of it, is the degree of your awareness of GOD’s presence, and your relationship with HIM.  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

Earthly-worldly love is vulnerable to being conditional, changeable, and temporary.​​ 

If you reject GOD, HE cannot accept you into heaven and into HIS Family, however HE will still love you, and observe your​​ outcome with great sadness.

Your dissatisfaction with your own behavior may make you feel unworthy, and you may unconsciously punish yourself by withdrawing from GOD. ​​ You might then attribute the distance between you and GOD as HIS displeasure, instead of the need for you to close the gap by returning to HIM, receiving HIS love, and loving HIM.  ​​ ​​​​ 

GOD still loves every person, but they, by their own choices, separate themselves from HIS promises. ​​ Future promised outcomes of HIS Love can only be effective when that love is accepted, responded to, and acted upon, by loving HIM.​​ 

When you are feeling unworthy or unloved, go to GOD.  ​​​​ 

When you know that you are loved by GOD, you don’t have to worry about what other people think of you. ​​ You have the ultimate love.  ​​​​ 

Leviticus 19:18 ​​​​ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. ​​ I am the LORD.’

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ​​​​ ‘Love The LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ​​ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ​​​​ Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  And you shall bind them for a sign on​​ your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ​​ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’​​ 

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 ​​​​ ‘Give generously to the poor and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD​​ you GOD will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ​​ There will always be poor people in the land. ​​ Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your brothers and sisters and toward the poor and needy in your land.’

Joshua ​​ 24:15 ​​​​ “As for me and my household we will serve the LORD.”  ​​ 

Psalm 13:5 ​​​​ ‘But I trust in YOUR unfailing love; my heart rejoices in YOUR salvation.’

Psalm 36:10 ​​​​ ‘Continue YOUR love to those who know YOU, YOUR righteousness to the upright in heart.’

Psalm​​ 85:10-11 ​​​​ ‘Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. ​​ Faithfulness springs forth from the Earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.’

Psalm 103:8-13 ​​​​ ‘The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger,​​ abounding in love. ​​ He will not always accuse, nor will HE harbour HIS anger forever; HE does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.​​ 

For as high as the heavens are above the Earth, so great is HIS love for those who fear​​ HIM; as far as the east is from the west, so far has HE removed our transgressions from us. ​​ As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear HIM; for HE knows how we are formed, HE remembers that we are dust.’

Psalm 118:29​​ ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for HE is good; HIS love endures forever.’

Psalm 136 ​​​​ ‘His (GOD’s) love endures forever.’  ​​​​ Repeated 26 times in this Psalm.

Proverbs 8:17 ​​​​ ‘I ​​ (GOD) love those who love ME, and those who seek ME find ME.’

Proverbs 15:17 ​​​​ ‘Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.’

Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) 8:7 ​​​​ ‘Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. ​​ If one were to give all the wealth of their house for love, it would​​ be utterly scorned.’

Isaiah 54:10 ​​​​ “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet MY unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor MY Covenant of peace be removed,” ​​ says the LORD, Who has compassion on you.’

Jeremiah 1:5 ​​​​ ‘The word of the LORD came to me (Jeremiah,) saying, ​​ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 31:3 ​​​​ ‘The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ​​ “I have loved ​​ you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

Lamentations 3:22-25 ​​​​ ‘Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for HIS compassions never fail. ​​ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.​​ 

I say to myself, ​​ “The LORD is​​ my portion; therefore I will wait for HIM. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in HIM, to the one who seeks HIM’

Matthew 5:44 ​​​​ “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Matthew 22:37-40 ​​​​ Jesus said “Love the Lord your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” ​​ This is the first and greatest commandment. ​​ And the second is like it “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ​​ All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”​​ 

Mark 12:28-34 ​​ ​​​​ ‘One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. ​​ Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one” answered Jesus, “is this, ‘Hear O Israel, the LORD our GOD, the LORD is one. ​​ Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ​​ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ​​ There is no commandment greater than these.’​​ 

​​ “Well said, Teacher,” the man replied. ​​ “You are right in saying that GOD is one and there is ​​ no other but HIM. ​​ To love HIM with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than​​ all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

(Also quoted in: ​​​​ Deuteronomy 6:4-5. ​​ Matthew 22:37. ​​ Luke 10:27.)

Luke 6:31, & 35-36 ​​​​ ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ ​​ This also is love.  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ ‘Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. ​​ Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ​​ Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.’

Luke 10:25-37 ​​​​ ‘On one occasion an expert in the​​ law stood up to test Jesus. ​​ “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

What is written in the Law” He replied, “How do you read it?” He answered: “Love the Lord your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. ​​ “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”​​ In reply Jesus said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to the city of Jericho. Robbers came out after him. They took his clothes off and beat him. Then they went away, leaving him almost dead. ​​  A religious leader was walking down that road and saw the man. But he went by on the​​ other side. ​​ In the same way, a man from the family group of Levi was walking down that road. When he saw the man who was hurt, he came near to him but kept on going on the other side of the road.  Then a man from the country of Samaria came by. He went up​​ to the man. As he saw him, he had loving-pity on him.  He got down and put oil and wine on the places where he was hurt and put cloth around them. Then the man from Samaria put this man on his own donkey. He took him to a place where people stay for the night and cared for him.​​  The next day the man from Samaria was ready to leave. He gave the owner of that place two pieces of money to care for him. He said to him, “Take care of this man. If you use more than this, I will give it to you when I come again.”​​ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who was beaten by the robbers?”​​ 

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This is an example of unconditional (agape) love in action.

John 3:16 ​​​​ “For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 8:28-29 ​​​​ ‘So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that​​ I do nothing on My own but speak just what the FATHER has taught Me. ​​ The ONE WHO sent Me is with Me; HE has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases HIM.”

John 13:34-35 ​​​​ “A new command I (Jesus) give you: ​​ Love one another. ​​ As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ​​ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 14:15, 21, 23, 24 ​​​​ Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. Whoever has My commands and obeys them, they are the ones who love Me. Whoever loves Me will be loved by My FATHER, and I too will love them and show Myself to them. If anyone loves Me, they will obey My teaching. My FATHER will love them, and We will come to them and make Our Home with them. Whoever does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own they belong to the FATHER who sent Me.”​​ 

John 15:7-17 ​​​​ “If you remain in me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ​​ This is to My FATHER’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.​​ 

As the FATHER has loved Me, so have I loved you. ​​ Now remain in My love. ​​ If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed my FATHER’S commands and remain in HIS​​ love. ​​ I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  ​​​​ My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ​​ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ​​ You are My friends if you​​ do what I command. ​​ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know their master’s business. ​​ Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My FATHER I have made known to you. ​​ You did not choose Me, but I chose you​​ and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit; fruit that will last; and so that whatever you ask in My Name the FATHER will give you. ​​ This is My command: Love each other.”

Romans 5:5-9 ​​​​ ‘And Hope does not disappoint us, because GOD has poured out​​ HIS love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom HE has given us.​​ 

You see at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ​​ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ​​ But​​ GOD demonstrates HIS own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ​​ 

Since we have been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from GOD’s wrath through Him (Jesus.)’ ​​ 

Romans 8:28-30 ​​​​ ‘We​​ know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose. ​​ For those GOD foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of HIS Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. ​​​​ And those HE predestined, HE also called; those HE called, HE also justified; those HE justified, HE also glorified.’

Romans 8:35-39 ​​​​ ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ​​ Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ​​ As it is written: ​​ “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” ​​ No in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM who loved us. ​​ For I am convinced ​​ that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons (principalities,) neither ​​ the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of GOD that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ ​​ 

Romans 12:9-21 ​​​​ ‘Love must be sincere. ​​ Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly and sisterly love. ​​ Honour one another above yourselves. ​​ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD. ​​ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ​​ Share with the LORD’s people who are in need. ​​ Practice hospitality.​​ 

​​ Less those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ​​ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ​​ Live in harmony with one another. ​​ Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. ​​ Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. ​​ Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ​​ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at​​ peace with everyone. ​​ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leaver room for GOD’s wrath, for it is written: “It is MINE to avenge; I will repay,” says the LORD. ​​ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something​​ to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ​​ 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’

Romans12:16 ​​​​ ‘Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not​​ be conceited.’

Romans 13:8-10 ​​​​ ‘Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ​​ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be are summed up in this one command: ​​ “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ​​ Love does no harm to a neighbor. ​​ Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.’

Romans 14:13 ​​​​ ‘Therefore let us stop passing​​ judgment on one another. ​​ Instead make up our mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of others.’

Romans 15:7 ​​​​ ‘Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to GOD.’

1 Corinthians 2:9 ​​​​ ‘No eye has​​ seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM.’  ​​ ​​​​ 

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ​​​​ ‘If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ​​ If I have the​​ gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ​​ If I give all I possess to the poor and give my body over to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love,​​ I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. ​​ It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ​​ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ​​ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices​​ with the truth. ​​ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ​​ But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ​​ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ​​ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. ​​ When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ​​ For now​​ we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. ​​ Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ​​ And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. ​​ But the greatest of these is love.’

(The second last sentence:​​ ​​ ‘Now I know in part, then I shall fully know, even as I am fully known.’​​ creates a magnificent thought: We know that GOD knows every hair on every head​​ Matthew 10:30​​ &​​ Luke 12:7 ​​​​ and this sentence infers that we will have the same level of knowledge.)

1 Corinthians 16:13 ​​​​ ‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ​​ Do everything in love.’

 

Verses 21-24 ​​​​ ‘I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.​​ 

If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! ​​ Come,​​ Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ​​ 

My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.  ​​ ​​​​ Amen.

 

‘Let that person be cursed,’ sounds severe, but it is stating the consequence that such a person attracts to themself as the result of their choice - decision; - because they leave themselves open to Satan’s curse.

 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ​​​​ ‘Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ​​ And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.’

2 Corinthians 13:11-12 ​​​​ ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. ​​ And the GOD of love and peace will be with you. ​​ Greet one another with a holy kiss.’

Ephesians 2:4-7 ​​​​ ‘But because of HIS great love for us, GOD, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions; it is by grace you have been saved. ​​ And GOD raised us up with Christ​​ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages HE might show the incomparable riches of HIS grace, expressed in HIS kindness to us in Christ Jesus.’

Ephesians 3:16-19 ​​​​ ‘I pray that out of HIS (GOD’s) ​​ glorious riches HE may strengthen you with power through HIS Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ​​ And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints (Christians), to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of GOD.’

Ephesians 4:2 ​​​​ ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.’​​ 

Verse 32​​ ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, GOD forgave you.’

Ephesians 5:1-2 ​​​​ ‘Be imitators of GOD, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as​​ Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to GOD.’

Philippians 1:9-11 ​​​​ ‘And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best​​ and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of GOD.’

Philippians 2:5 ​​​​ ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’

Colossians 3:12-14 ​​​​ ‘Therefore as GOD’S chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ​​ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. ​​ Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ​​ Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’

1 Thessalonians 3:12 ​​​​ ‘May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.’

Hebrews​​ 10:24-25 ​​​​ ‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ​​ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ ​​​​ 

James 1:16-18 ​​​​ ‘Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ​​ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the FATHER of the heavenly lights, Who does ​​ not change like shifting shadows. ​​ HE chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we​​ might be a kind of first fruits of all HE created.’

1 Peter 1:22 ​​​​ ‘Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.’

1 Peter 4:8 ​​​​ ‘Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.’

1 Peter 5:14 ​​​​ ‘Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.’

1 John 2:3-6 ​​​​ ‘We know that we have come to know HIM (GOD) if we obey HIS commands. ​​ Whoever says, “I know HIM,’ but does not do what HE commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ​​ But if anyone obeys HIS Word, love for GOD is truly made complete in them. ​​ This is how we know that we are in HIM. ​​ Whoever claims to live in HIM must live as Jesus​​ did.’​​ 

1 John 2:15-17 ​​​​ ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. ​​ If anyone loves the world, the love of the FATHER is not in them. ​​ For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the FATHER but from the world. ​​ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of GOD lives forever.’

There is nothing more rewarding, satisfying, and encouraging as loving others through your words and actions. ​​ It is very therapeutic to both parties.

GOD is a loving GOD.

Ponder the awesome mystery of GOD’s love that encompasses you from before birth to beyond the grave. ​​ We need the certainty of GOD’s eternal loving presence to be able to weather the storms of life.

Most people are​​ engaged in almost ceaseless activity, amusements, entertainment, sport, family distractions, and many other forms of involvement, which occupy their minds away from thinking about the inevitable gaping jaws of death. ​​ They should be devoting time to developing their friendship with GOD; and their understanding of the perspective of eternity.

Keep your focus on Jesus and GOD, to experience their presence, peace, and love.

1 John 3:1 ​​​​ ‘How great is the love the FATHER has lavished on us, that we should be called children of GOD. ​​ And that is what we are. ​​ The reason the world does not know us, is that it did not know HIM.’​​ 

1 John 3:13-18 ​​​​ ‘Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ​​ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. ​​ Anyone who does not love remains in death. ​​ Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in them. This is how we know what love is: ​​ Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. ​​ And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ​​ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of GOD be in that person.? ​​ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.’​​ 

1 John 4:7-21 & 5:1-5 ​​​​ “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from GOD. ​​ Everyone who loves has been born of GOD and knows GOD. ​​ Whosoever does not love does not know GOD, because​​ GOD is love. ​​ This is how GOD showed His love among us: HE sent HIS one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. ​​ This is love: not that we loved GOD, but that HE loved us and sent HIS SON as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ​​ Dear friends, since GOD​​ so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ​​ No one has ever seen GOD; but if we love one another, GOD lives in us and HIS love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in HIM and HE in us: ​​ HE has given us of HIS Spirit. ​​ And we have seen and testify that the FATHER has sent HIS Son to be the Saviour of the world. ​​ ‘If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of GOD, GOD lives in them and they in GOD. And so we know and rely on the love GOD has for us.​​ 

GOD is love. ​​​​ Whoever lives in love lives in GOD, and GOD in them. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like HIM. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because HE first loved us. ​​​​ If anyone says, “I love GOD,” yet hates their Christian brother / sister, whom they have ​​ seen, cannot love GOD, whom they have not seen. ​​ And HE has given us this command: ​​ Anyone who loves GOD must also love their brother and sister.’​​ (meaning everyone)​​ 

5:1-5 ​​​​ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of GOD, and everyone who loves the FATHER loves the children of GOD: by loving GOD and​​ carrying out HIS commandments. ​​ In fact, this is love for GOD: to keep HIS commands. ​​ And HIS commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of GOD overcomes the world. ​​ This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ​​ Who is it that overcomes the world? ​​ Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of GOD.”

GOD is love in its broadest, deepest, strongest, and most meaningful sense.  ​​​​ HIS love is unconditional.  ​​​​ HIS love is unlimited.  ​​ ​​​​ 

Expressions of love for GOD.

1​​ John 5:1-5 ​​​​ ‘Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of GOD, and everyone who loves the​​ FATHER loves His child as well. ​​ This is how we know that we love the children of GOD; by loving GOD and carrying out HIS commands. ​​ This is love for GOD: to obey HIS commands. ​​ And HIS commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of GOD overcomes the world. ​​ This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ​​ Who is it that overcomes the world? ​​ Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of GOD.’

Why would one not want to love our GOD of Creation, of Origins, of Life itself, of Love; a GOD who has magnificent plans, beyond our imagination -​​ lasting eternally​​ - for everyone who genuinely and truly loves Him.​​ 

Our GOD who originally made a perfect Earth, then made us, and gave us complete freedom, except for one thing which HE​​ lovingly instructed us not to do, because it would destroy perfection in a big way and in every way, including us being changed from being immortal to being mortal. ​​ Death was not part of GOD’s original creation.

2 John 1:6 ​​​​ ‘And this is love: that we walk​​ in obedience to His commands. ​​ As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.’

Revelation 3:19-20 ​​​​ ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ​​ Here I am; I stand at the door and knock. ​​ If​​ anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with Me.’

If we live with love in every ​​ part of our life, we can eventually live in eternal love, with GOD WHO is Love Himself.  ​​​​ GOD is Love.

A real Christian LOVES everyone.​​ 

A young Christian woman’s silent message to all Christians: ​​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YXINEYdnkY ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ (4 minutes)

 

And Can It Be.’  ​​​​ (‘Amazing Love How Can It Be.’)

A​​ beautiful hymn to listen to, and reflect on the words:​​ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t66l03XmQI ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ (5 minutes)

‘And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died​​ He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my GOD, should die for me?

Amazing love! ​​ How can it be,
That Thou, my GOD, should die for me? 

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can​​ explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all.! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

Amazing love! ​​ How can it be,
That Thou, my GOD, should die for me? 

He left His FATHER’S​​ throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless ​​ race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my GOD, it found out me!

Amazing love! ​​ How can it be,
That Thou, my GOD, should die for me? 

Long my​​ imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love! ​​ How can it be,
That Thou,​​ my GOD, should die for me? 

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Saviour in my heart.

Amazing love! ​​ How can it be,
That Thou, my GOD, should die for me? 

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ​​ my own.

Amazing love! ​​ How can it be,
That Thou, my GOD, should die for me?’

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