PHILIA LOVE – PART II
Since philia love involves feelings of warmth and affection toward another person, we do not have philia love toward our enemies. Typically, the feelings we have toward our enemies are feelings of distrust, loathing, or other feelings of intense dislike or ill will. But even so, with these feelings we are not to hate our enemies but love them with the love of the LORD (the Agape Love: we dislike what they do or say but not them as a person; GOD loves us all and He has no respect of person, and we are to love as He does. (Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God). God commands us to have Agape (that love, which considers one. It has mercy and compassion, and sees the person as YHWH, GOD, sees them; into their heart, the goodness, He has embedded in all of us, and its potential. It is a love that is not controlled by our feelings, nor does it rely on our emotions but is born out of the love for our GOD and truth. So let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. It is unconcerned with oneself but is, at all times, caring with the greatest good of others. Therefore, we must approach it with unmerited, grace, patterned after our Lord Jesus, and constantly seek the benefit of the ones He loves; that would be all of us. The Bible says we are the undeserving recipients of His lavish agape love toward everyone, knowing that as flesh, we must learn and practice this love. (I John 3:1-3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 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. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure). This includes those whose personalities clash with ours, those who hurt us and treat us badly, and even those who are hostile toward us and our faith. (Luke 6:27-28 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you: Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;). When we understand the true meaning of “LOVE” the world will not be in such a sensitive, sad, unsettled, selfish state. We will know how to love our brothers and sisters (not only the ones who profess to be children of YAH, but all men) as He wants us to. In time, as we follow God’s example of Agape love for our enemies, we may even begin to experience Philia love for some of them as we start to see them through God’s eyes. As there are enemies out there, seeking to destroy us, so is GOD’s love here to keep, protect, maintain, and make us stronger in love for one another. (Song of Solomon 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters).
When we continue to walk in love, eventually, we will observe the effect of true unity; its powerful presence. We will recognize that it is a great and powerful thing when we learn to live in love and peace with one another; joined as a whole. (Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!)
You, me, and everyone that does, can profess to be a child of God all we want, but if we do not show love (honor His Word, walk in His way, nor do His will; love your neighbor), all are living a lie. How, can we say we love YHWH, GOD, and treat our brothers and sisters the way we do? (1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?)
Well, let us look at the way we treat our brothers and sisters (our neighbors). First, of all, we do not love them as YHWH, intended us to. In God’s equation, we, that have accepted Yashuah, Jesus, as our Lord and Saviour, are considered as a part of the body of Christ; we need each other, or we do not function to our total potential. As the head needs the neck, the arms need the shoulders, the hand needs the fingers; all of us are a part of the body of Christ. And when we work together, in love, the body function as a well-oiled piece of machinery. But if one is lost or removed (through the process of hatred, anger, unbelief, etc., the body does not function as YHWH, GOD, made it to function. Because if one part suffers (as we see today, (the less fortunate), then every part suffers with it. The same is true if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 24-27 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it).
In these trying times, our love for each other, has been diluted with the cares of this world; hatred, anger, worries, hostility, the list goes on. GOD’s true love, given by Yashuah, our Christ, has been replaced with a façade of pretentious love. This love, that the world is showing today is not of GOD but of the necessity of selfish greed (if I do this, what will I get from it) it goes as far as we can see each other and then it fades away as the distance, between us, grows larger; it is gone. It is only there at that time because we are in each other’s presence: once we have lost sight of the other it seems to fade away too. Sometimes, when we are in each other’s presence, we show hatred, not love to one another on purpose. But we must understand that the importance and need, for YAH’s, GOD, love, and the love for one another love, (which GOD, has given us), is the basis for our abundant and harmonious existence. It was epitomized by YHWH’s (GOD), gift to us and publicized by Jesus, through His actions toward all those He came in contact with then and to this day, with us. This example was meant for our good, not just a show, put on by Him for our entertainment. Although sometimes it seems that when it comes to showing love for one another, as YAH commanded us to do, we are slow to do so. In those moment(s) where we have an opportunity to do so it somehow turns into hate. And is delivered with irreputable destruction; whether it (the world’s population) is trying to destroy the character of your brother or trying to condemn his soul (only YHWH can and will do that).
Know this, we can walk alone in hate or walk together in brotherly love. The latter gives us greater strength. GOD is love and so should we be. And if we are not, we do not know nor love God as we thought we did. (1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love).
We take our anger toward one another to a place where YAH did not subject it to go. That is why through Yashuah, Jesus, as our example and guide, we are to pattern ourselves after Him. We are to be slow to anger when it comes to one another and quick to forgive. And even though this world is a mess, GOD’s LOVE is not, always the same. And He is steadily calling us to come and open our ears, minds, mouths, and hearts to Him: not judging each other, not put-up barriers in each other’s way, not critical, nor cause any to fall but resolve all matters with brotherly love: the love given by YHWH, GOD. Amen. (James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
Romans 12:5 (NKJV) so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 12:10 (NKJV) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Romans 12:16 (NKJV) Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things,
but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Romans 13:8 (NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 14:13 (NKJV) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Romans 15:7 (NKJV) Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
Romans 15:14 (NKJV) Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
We must link up to GOD’s Agape love to know the true meaning of Philia love and be strengthened, through Yashuah, Jesus, to practice it. God is so good, and His mercy endures forever. GODS GOT IT NO WORRY NO FEAR.
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