PART II – PHILIA LOVE (BROTHERLY LOVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER)

PART I

We hear about GOD’S LOVE (AGAPE) and we know or should know how it works; it is ever present with us in spite of our stupidity or sinful ways. But there is another love, one of which if practice correctly mirrors the Love of YHWH, that we talk about but find it hard to practice and that is BROTHERLY OR PHILIA LOVE. We will not be capable of loving our brother and sisters if we do not first, love YHWH. There is only one true GOD and one true source of perfect love, and that is YHWH. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might). In Him we find all the love of a Father or a friend and the ability to love our earthly fathers, brothers, and friends as we should. (Psalm 18:1-2 18 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower).

YHWH’s love spans over all areas and moments of our life even until the end of time. It is so great a love that He did not hesitate to give up His only Son to cover our many, many, sins. And it is so powerful that even though we are yet sinners, He still has the capacity to love us. All He wants us to do is to position ourselves, in Yashuah (Jesus), to be able to use our love as an instrument (the example Jesus gave us) to love and forgive one another, no matter the problem, situation or circumstance. (1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins).

You see, when we say we love God but in the same thought and breath say we hate our brother or sister, shows that we do not have the love of God in us. Truly, you are making such a statement, without thought nor understanding of it or wisdom to the fact that if you love GOD, Who is love, you can love the person but dislike their action or speech. And for those who assert that they love GOD with confidence and boldness without providing evidence or proof, which is displaying that love to his fellow man, is not telling the truth. All should ask themselves this question. How can you profess to love God whom you have never seen but hate the very ones, in His image, that you have seen? You cannot because this type of reasoning and relating will take you in the opposite direction of GOD’S love for you. (1 John 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen).

There is a misgiving about how and to whom we show our love to. So, when we love the Father, GOD, you would think that we are surely loving Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who plays an integral part in everyone’s life.  Not so. Some believe that Yashuah is just a by-line (a secondary line: sideline) of GOD; Someone (Jesus), Who went about preaching the gospel, and teaching how to love (Agape and Philia): that was pretty much it.  But we must understand and know that He is the product of YHWH (GOD’s) perfect love. He is the open door to the true meaning of GOD’s love and the love we show one another. And that before we learn how to love like GOD love or close as possible to it, (which helps us to exercise Philia love) we must first seek and accept Yashuah, Jesus, as our personal Saviour, our intermediator, salvation, deliverer, redeemer, rescuer, and all, else, we could ever need or want in life: He is the epitome of GOD’s LOVE.

Philia refers to brotherly love, the love we show for each other. It is most often shown in a close relationship with your brother and sister, in Christ or a close friendship. Take for instance best friends, they will display this generous and affectionate love for each other; doing the things, needed, to make the other happy. One account, in the Scripture, is that of David and Jonathan. It is an excellent illustration of philia love: 1 “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1 and 3).

All throughout the Bible Jesus talks of brotherly love or philia love; to love your neighbor as yourself. And we know that for us to honestly love our brother, we must start with laying the foundation for it. This foundation is based on and can only be made sound when we have developed the Love we have for GOD. GOD is to be love above all things; above angels, men, or any of His other creation. Then, after we have established our true love for YHWH, (GOD), there will be no hesitation in loving self; after which, loving our brother, as we love self, will become second nature; an automatic; without exhorted effort. Because when you love the Lord with all your being, you cannot help but loving self as His most prized creation. And if you love self, your love for others will be limitless (eithout end or boundary). (Mark 12:30-31 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these).

It is a very good thing to show love rather than hate. Because each of us sin in some shape, form, or fashion daily against God or our brother/sister; usually through anger, hatred, intolerance, etc. Yes, we all experience negative feelings (and sometimes actions) but you will see how the love you have cultivated your heart through the love of Jesus Christ, covers a multitude of sin (Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins).

Never stop loving and being a true friend no matter what the world throws at you. (Proverbs 17:17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity). As we go against the sins of the world and continue in brotherly love, Yashuah, Jesus, will (because we continued in love for one another), bring us, together, through the fire, through the storms; through any trial, trouble, or tribulation in our path. He will gather us at a meeting place where everyone (sinners and saints alike), know that they have experienced the true LOVE of GOD. there will be no question nor contestation. It was because we worked together, in love, He kept His banner of love, grace, mercy, and protection over us. (Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love). This is a show of Agape love, but it also shows how staying in brotherly love can and will affect our outcome in life. Because when we look at philia love as being precious to our existence, we will look to practice it daily and with conviction. (If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Proverb 2:4) (Jeremiah 31:1-5). God has seen us in our misery, and He knows what a struggle it is to practice love for one another, in theses wicked times. Yet, He will, as with the children of Israel, show us love and grace and give us rest. We must remain steady in our commitment to love one another; which will become one of our most precious truths. YHWH (GOD), through Yashuah (Jesus), wants us to experience the fullness of His love so we can share with others. (31 At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.2 Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting

love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. 5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. Jeremiah 31:1-5).