Steven Wright said, “ I plan to live forever, so far, so good.” Funny but true; we are stuck with the perception of life viewed through time. God loved Israel with an everlasting love and as far as we know, He’s keeping the promise. The Bible helps here because it refers to time yet future; it fast-forwards us at least 1000 years, and then jumps off of times’ diving board into eternity. Love and eternity go hand in hand, for God is Love.
Let’s begin with the rule; From Ecclesiastes 3:14 and Deuteronomy 33:27, God exists Love, both what He does and who He is are forever. This helps to explain how perfect love casts out fear, in John’s epistle.
What could “perfect love” be referring to? God’s love, yes, but the verse says that love is made perfect. That’s referring to us, me and you. If “perfect” means “mature,” then it means we are growing up in this love. God’s love does not need to mature but my immersion into His love can constantly refine. It develops into boldness in the face of judgment, because “as He is so are you in this world.” — All from John’s epistle.
As mercy rejoices against judgment, immersion in love creates confidence, frankness, bravery, courage, joy, strength. How? When perceived, meditated on, mixed with faith, and transferred through the spirit to the heart, the Word of grace becomes resident in the memory center and grows to be “who I am.” Transformation baby! It displaces the old coward, the dud, the wimp, and the beggar. That dude stuck to his guns saying, “I will not change.” Now he discovers, “I can change.” My performance can adjust because I am a new person who passed from judgment to life. Halleluiah.
So, we have Greek words for love. “Agapao,” speaks of a love which causes one to prize another.” God prizes us? Yes, when we wrap up in this sense of being prized, it equals love, equals good self-image, equals self-assurance.
“’Phileo’ is a love which is the response … to what appeals to it as pleasurable,” quotes Kenneth Wuest. Wait, we are not pleasurable to God in our raw flesh, there is no God-responding to our stuff. No, God is initiating, in spite of my messy self, He sees value; Yes, He sees value –in spite of me. So, what are the conditions of His Love? — None, dear saints, no not one.
A poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning finishes with these lines; “…loves me for love’s sake, that evermore Thou mayst love on, through loves eternity.” For love’s sake? — Yes, the impress of Love Himself, Spirit Himself, Word Himself, revolutionizes what was once a fearful soul.
George Herbert wrote an insightful poem:
Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyes Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.
A guest, I answered, worthy to be here.
Love said, You shall be he.
I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth, Lord, but I have marred them, let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will. Serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat.
So I did sit and eat.
Friends, our “Phileo” creates a glow in our heart. It’s for us to respond, to simply receive, and stretch out. We slow down, calm down, loosen up, and let go. “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein, this is Luke18:17. We cannot be that unwound, innocent, candid, trusting, or believing person without childlikeness.
“Love is little and not loud. It nests within each cell, and it cannot be split. It is a ray, a seed, a note, a word, a secret motion of our air and blood. It is not alien—it is near –our very skin, a sheath to keep us pure of fear.” May Swenson
Finally Jesus said, “Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. Rid of dread the child appears. Luke 9:48 love ya