What is True Love?
YAHUAH is love, and he who abides in love abides in YAHUAH, and YAHUAH abides in him” 1 John 4:16.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his 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 to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other!"
"Yahusha said to him, you shall love Yahuah with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt 22:37-40
Yahusha said you will know my people by their fruits, he was speaking about the Fruit of the Spirit and if you notice the very first fruit is Love; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 So, what this tells me is that separate from YAH we are not capable of true Love, because YAH is Love, we do not have Love until we accept Yahusha as our Messiah and Savior and begin to live a life surrendered & obedient to his will, then we are changed into his image and begin to exude in the fruits of the Spirit, which is the essence and characteristics of YAH flowing through us to others.
You did not choose me, but I chose you. Why? I appointed you to go and bear fruit. That fruit will remain, that will last. And then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Again, this is my command, love each other John 15:16.
A loving, praying family is a powerful tool in YAH's hand. And Yahushua's emphasis of his choosing of us is designed to eliminate ALL pride.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines love as "an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties". Often this "intense affection" stems from a sexual attraction for that other person. We love other people, or we say we love other people, when we are attracted to them and when they make us feel good. "Based on". This phrase implies that we love conditionally; in other words, we love someone because they fulfill a condition that we require before we can love them. How many times have you heard or said, "I love you because you are cute;" or "I love you because you take good care of me;" or "I love you because you are fun to be with"?
Our love is not only conditional, it is also mercurial. We love based on feelings and emotions that can change from one moment to the next. The divorce rate is extremely high in today's society because husbands and wives supposedly stop loving one another or they "fall out of love". They may go through a rough patch in their marriage, and they no longer "feel" love for their spouse, so they call it quits. Evidently, their marriage vow of "till death do us part" means they can part at the death of their love for their spouse rather than at their physical death.
Can anyone really comprehend "unconditional" love? It seems the love that parents have for their children is as close to unconditional love as we can get without the help of YAH's love in our lives. We continue to love our children through good times and bad, and we don't stop loving them if they don't meet the expectations we may have for them. We make a choice to love our children even when we consider them unlovable; our love doesn't stop when we don't "feel" love for them. This is similar to YAH's love for us, but as we shall see, YAH's love transcends the human definition of love to a point that is hard for us to comprehend.
Scripture tells us that "YAHUAH is Love" 1 John 4:8. But how can we even begin to understand that truth? There are many passages in Scripture that give us YAH's definition of love. The most well known verse is John 3:16, "For YHWH so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son Yahusha, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
So one way YHWH defines love is in the act of giving. However, what YHWH gave (or should we say, "who" YHWH gave) was not a mere gift-wrapped present; Yahuah sacrificed His only Son so that we, who put our faith in His Son, will not spend eternity separated from Him. This is an amazing love, because we are the ones who choose to be separated from Yahuah through our own sin, yet it's YAH who mends the separation through His intense personal sacrifice, and all we have to do is accept His gift.
Another great verse about YAH's love is found in Romans 5:8, "But Yahuah commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Yahusha died for us." In this verse and in John 3:16, we find no conditions placed on YAH's love for us. YAH doesn't say, "as soon as you clean up your act, I'll love you; " nor does He say, "I'll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love Me." In fact, in Romans 5:8, we find just the opposite. YAH wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Yahusha, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn't have to get clean, and we didn't have to make any promises to YAH before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love.
Whenever we desire to learn more about the character of YAH, it is essential that we allow the Bible to teach us. Far too often the believers equate the character of YAH with that which they have experienced in their relationships with other humans. We must not do that, for we cannot, and dare not, bring YAH down to our level.
This is especially true when we think about the love of YHWH. In the Greek language a unique word is used to express the love of YHWH. It is the word ‘Agape’. It denotes a love that is far above that which we experience in our natural relationships with one another. It is a free, unconditional, giving love.
King James translated agape as charity, not love. Agape is the word Paul chose, and it was, one of three kinds of love articulated in Greek: the other two are eros and philia. Eros means "I desire,an affection of a sexual nature.
philia means "I engage,an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexualaffection " and agape means "I give," The love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love, one that surpasses all other types of affection, but they all get translated as love.
Love is a constellation of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection or profound oneness.
The meaning of love varies relative to context. Romantic love is seen as an ineffable feeling of intense attraction shared in passionate or intimate attraction and intimate interpersonal and sexual relationships.
Love can also be construed as Platonic love, religious love, familial love, and, more casually, great affection for anything considered strongly pleasurable, desirable, or preferred, to include activities and foods.
This diverse range of meanings in the singular word love is often contrasted with the plurality of Greek words for love, reflecting the concept's depth, versatility, and complexity.
Webster Dictionary Definition:
1) a love feast practiced by early believers in connection with the Last Supper
2) unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another, as: the fatherly concern of YAH for humankind; the brotherly concern for others
1. verb feel tender affection for somebody: to feel tender affection for somebody such as a close relative or friend, or for something such as a place, an ideal, or an animal
2. Feel desire for somebody: to feel romantic and sexual desire and longing for somebody
3. like something very much: to like something, or like doing, something very much I love watching old movies on TV.
4. Show kindness to somebody: to feel and show kindness and charity to somebody love your enemies
To have sex with somebody: to have sexual intercourse “IS NOT LOVE”
noun (plural loves)
1. Passionate attraction and desire: a passionate feeling of romantic desire and sexual attraction
2. Very strong affection: an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion Young children need unconditional love.
3. Somebody much loved: somebody who is loved romantically or sexually He was her first real love.
4. Strong liking: a strong liking for or pleasure gained from something love of music
5. Something showing enthusiasm: something that expresses deep interest and enthusiasm in somebody
Music was his greatest love but he also liked ballet.
6. Beloved: used as an affectionate word to somebody loved (informal)
7. U.K. term of friendly address: used as a friendly term of address, usually to a woman (informal)
8.YAH's love for humanity: The mercy, grace, and Love shown by YHWH to humanity
9. Worship of YHWH: The praise, worship and adoration of YHWH
Scripture overflows with verses about love, with passages that speak of divine love, brotherly love and romantic love. This is just a few of the many Bible verses about love.
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Song of Solomon 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands love your wives, just as Yahusha loved the chosen and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Yahusha laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:8-12
He that loveth not knoweth not YAH; for YAH is love. (9) In this was manifested the love of YAH toward us, because that Yahuah sent his only begotten Son Yahusha into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved YHWH, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (Atonement) for us. (11) Beloved, if YHWH so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (12) No man hath seen YAH at any time. (seen his fullness, all at one time). If we love one another, YHWH dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us..
1 John 4:18
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.
Romans.8:37-39
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Yahushua.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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, and always perseveres.
Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, that love is patient and love is kind. In other words, it's an expression of something. It is active goodness. The divine love that He is talking about is active continuous goodness (the gifts of the Spirit or the Fruits of the Spirit).
Usually when I read this chapter, I go right for the "love is" section. Love is patient and kind and so on. If we modify the word love and insert the names of our family members, we begin to change the Spiritual atmosphere over our lives and of our families. If we begin confessing the fruits of the Spirit over our families and over our marriage and relationships we will see change, we will see the Fruits of the Spirit manifest.
If we strive to Love one another and center our families around the Love and teachings of Yahusha, then we will begin living according to the Spirit of Yahuah and this is when we grow in an intimate Love affair with our Messiah and Savior Yahusha and this is when we truly experience YAH’s blessings.
Galatians 2:20 is a very well known and loved scripture in the New Testament. But one small point that is not always brought out is the last part of the verse. Paul says that Yahusha ‘loved me and gave himself for me’. ‘He loves me!’ he keeps saying, ‘he did it for me!’ For Paul (and it should be for us),
YHWH’s love is personal. ‘For Yahuah so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son; but for Paul it was more than that. Yahusha loved him personally and gave His life for him! And this should be our cry also. It has been said before that if there were only one sinner who was in need of redemption, Yahusha would have still gone to the tree. It’s true! YHWH’s love is personal
‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, 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 YHWH that is in Yahushua. Romans 8:38-39
In the book of Romans, he had been expressing the way of salvation and all that Yahusha's death means for us. He ends this section with the most emphatic statement that anyone could make about the eternal nature of Yahuah’s love. To those who have come into a true relationship with YHWH, through the death of Yahusha), Paul says that he is convinced that there is absolutely nothing that can separate them from YHWH’s love!
There is nothing in the past that can separate them, nor is there anything in the future. There is nothing in this life that can separate them from YAH’s love, not is there anything in death that could do it. Amazing! YAH’s love will never be taken from those who are truly born again, and we can believe with all assurance that…‘Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of YHWH forever.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Yahusha, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of YHWH.’ Ephesians 3:17-19
Now Paul had experienced a lot to do with YAH’s love. That’s for sure! It’s no wonder that he so eagerly wanted others to experience it for themselves. Here he writes to the Ephesians, and look at the words he uses. He wants them to know this love, grasp the extent of it, be rooted and established in YAH’s love. And look also as the result of doing this, it results in being ‘filled to the measure of all the fullness of YWWH.’ All believers should desire to be filled with YAH's Spirit. Why not pray and concentrate on what Paul prays here? That you may have your eyes open to the extent of YAH’s love for you. Speaking of this agape love, Paul wants us to know the following four things.
The width of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 2:11-18. The love of Yahusha is wide enough to include everyone and exclude none! It reaches out to us gentiles, those ‘having no hope and without YAH in the world’. His love doesn’t look at race, colour, sex, wealth, or status (the very things some do judge by!) but includes all.
The length of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 1:4 and 2:7. It stretches from eternity to eternity. That’s how long it is! In love we were chosen before the foundation of the world. And even in the age to come we will be a demonstration of YAH’s love, kindness and grace. Ephesians 2:7
The depth of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 2:1-5. The depth of His love is shown by the depth of our sin that Yahushua took upon himself to free us. How far He descended so that we could ascend. ‘Dead in our sins’, ‘by nature, children of wrath’, ‘sons of disobedience’. Yet His love for us was such that He humbled Himself, even to the death of the tree.
The height of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 2:6. Not only did Yahusha plunge down to our depth, but he also raised us up to His heights, seating us with Him in the heavenly places. Is this great position only given to the cream of His disciples? No, His love has performed this to for the lowliest sinner who simply, truly believes.
Let me remind you that YAH wants us all to know the extent of these things, to be rooted and established in them, and to fully grasp and comprehend them. YAH’s love is to be known and experienced. Just as the roots of a tree sink deep into the ground for nourishment, life and stability, so will these things be ours as we are rooted and firmly established in YAH’s love.
2 Corinthians 5:14 ‘For Yahushua’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.’
I know of nothing that is so motivating as the love and grace of YAH. Here Paul writes how Yahusha’s love should work in us in such a way, that it compels us to live for the one who has shown us that love. John writes; Perfect love, casts out all fear, and the one who fears has not been made perfect in love. Love will always be a greater motive than fear for living a life pleasing to Yahusha and staying on the ‘straight and narrow’.
Love will last forever. So love each other. How we Love each other is our first form of witness to a hurting world. Drill that into your mind. It's our first form of witness, how we are with one another, is what bears fruit for YAH.
YAH will be with you as you grow emotionally from an infant who thinks primarily of its own pleasure to a truly Spiritual being, who cares about the needs of others, for YAH is the Power that makes love.
"YAH will be with you, when after days of anxiety and confusion, the dawn breaks and suddenly you see where you are going, for YAH is the Power that makes for a better tomorrow" A new life is ahead of you in Yahusha! YAH is with us, for YAH is love as we completely reunite with the Spirit of YHWH.
“Nothing is worse than knowing that we are not loved by someone who is supposed to love us”. I am worth Loving, so simply Love me!
‘I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.’ John 17:23
When we read the above verse, our natural reaction is to disbelieve it for the love that we experience on earth is nearly always conditional love. We can understand YHWH loving Yahusha so totally and absolutely for He always lived to do the Father’s will. But we don’t! (Always live to do His will).
Does He really love us the same as He loves Yahushua? Yes! Amazing truth, but then, that’s why it’s agape love. An unconditional, free, giving love.
Yahusha said the same thing about His own love for us.
‘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…This is my command: Love each other.’John 15:9-10,17
Yahusha, (again!) is the example for us to follow. His relationship with YHWH is the key to our relationship with YAH. He walked in the fear of the YHWH (put YAH’s will first), was totally dependant upon the Father for His strength ‘By myself I can do nothing’ was His testimony John 5:19, 30, and John 15:5, and through these things obeyed the Father in all things. And so, He says, obey my commandments and you will continue in my love. He emphasises – Love one another. In other words, express to others that same love which YAH has installed in your life. I think we are now back to where we began! Love from a pure heart. YAH’s unconditional love for you comes first. Absolutely. We can only love others, as we have tasted of His love.
Agape love is what Paul encourages. To go the distance, to go deep, agape centered love is what we need and luckily it is also what YHWH gives and what Yahusha displays. It is what Yahusha asks of us. It's what we ask of Yahusha. “Unconditional Love”
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his 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 to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other!"
"Yahusha said to him, you shall love Yahuah with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt 22:37-40
Yahusha said you will know my people by their fruits, he was speaking about the Fruit of the Spirit and if you notice the very first fruit is Love; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 So, what this tells me is that separate from YAH we are not capable of true Love, because YAH is Love, we do not have Love until we accept Yahusha as our Messiah and Savior and begin to live a life surrendered & obedient to his will, then we are changed into his image and begin to exude in the fruits of the Spirit, which is the essence and characteristics of YAH flowing through us to others.
You did not choose me, but I chose you. Why? I appointed you to go and bear fruit. That fruit will remain, that will last. And then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Again, this is my command, love each other John 15:16.
A loving, praying family is a powerful tool in YAH's hand. And Yahushua's emphasis of his choosing of us is designed to eliminate ALL pride.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines love as "an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties". Often this "intense affection" stems from a sexual attraction for that other person. We love other people, or we say we love other people, when we are attracted to them and when they make us feel good. "Based on". This phrase implies that we love conditionally; in other words, we love someone because they fulfill a condition that we require before we can love them. How many times have you heard or said, "I love you because you are cute;" or "I love you because you take good care of me;" or "I love you because you are fun to be with"?
Our love is not only conditional, it is also mercurial. We love based on feelings and emotions that can change from one moment to the next. The divorce rate is extremely high in today's society because husbands and wives supposedly stop loving one another or they "fall out of love". They may go through a rough patch in their marriage, and they no longer "feel" love for their spouse, so they call it quits. Evidently, their marriage vow of "till death do us part" means they can part at the death of their love for their spouse rather than at their physical death.
Can anyone really comprehend "unconditional" love? It seems the love that parents have for their children is as close to unconditional love as we can get without the help of YAH's love in our lives. We continue to love our children through good times and bad, and we don't stop loving them if they don't meet the expectations we may have for them. We make a choice to love our children even when we consider them unlovable; our love doesn't stop when we don't "feel" love for them. This is similar to YAH's love for us, but as we shall see, YAH's love transcends the human definition of love to a point that is hard for us to comprehend.
Scripture tells us that "YAHUAH is Love" 1 John 4:8. But how can we even begin to understand that truth? There are many passages in Scripture that give us YAH's definition of love. The most well known verse is John 3:16, "For YHWH so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son Yahusha, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
So one way YHWH defines love is in the act of giving. However, what YHWH gave (or should we say, "who" YHWH gave) was not a mere gift-wrapped present; Yahuah sacrificed His only Son so that we, who put our faith in His Son, will not spend eternity separated from Him. This is an amazing love, because we are the ones who choose to be separated from Yahuah through our own sin, yet it's YAH who mends the separation through His intense personal sacrifice, and all we have to do is accept His gift.
Another great verse about YAH's love is found in Romans 5:8, "But Yahuah commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Yahusha died for us." In this verse and in John 3:16, we find no conditions placed on YAH's love for us. YAH doesn't say, "as soon as you clean up your act, I'll love you; " nor does He say, "I'll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love Me." In fact, in Romans 5:8, we find just the opposite. YAH wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Yahusha, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn't have to get clean, and we didn't have to make any promises to YAH before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love.
Whenever we desire to learn more about the character of YAH, it is essential that we allow the Bible to teach us. Far too often the believers equate the character of YAH with that which they have experienced in their relationships with other humans. We must not do that, for we cannot, and dare not, bring YAH down to our level.
This is especially true when we think about the love of YHWH. In the Greek language a unique word is used to express the love of YHWH. It is the word ‘Agape’. It denotes a love that is far above that which we experience in our natural relationships with one another. It is a free, unconditional, giving love.
King James translated agape as charity, not love. Agape is the word Paul chose, and it was, one of three kinds of love articulated in Greek: the other two are eros and philia. Eros means "I desire,an affection of a sexual nature.
philia means "I engage,an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexualaffection " and agape means "I give," The love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love, one that surpasses all other types of affection, but they all get translated as love.
Love is a constellation of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection or profound oneness.
The meaning of love varies relative to context. Romantic love is seen as an ineffable feeling of intense attraction shared in passionate or intimate attraction and intimate interpersonal and sexual relationships.
Love can also be construed as Platonic love, religious love, familial love, and, more casually, great affection for anything considered strongly pleasurable, desirable, or preferred, to include activities and foods.
This diverse range of meanings in the singular word love is often contrasted with the plurality of Greek words for love, reflecting the concept's depth, versatility, and complexity.
Webster Dictionary Definition:
1) a love feast practiced by early believers in connection with the Last Supper
2) unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another, as: the fatherly concern of YAH for humankind; the brotherly concern for others
1. verb feel tender affection for somebody: to feel tender affection for somebody such as a close relative or friend, or for something such as a place, an ideal, or an animal
2. Feel desire for somebody: to feel romantic and sexual desire and longing for somebody
3. like something very much: to like something, or like doing, something very much I love watching old movies on TV.
4. Show kindness to somebody: to feel and show kindness and charity to somebody love your enemies
To have sex with somebody: to have sexual intercourse “IS NOT LOVE”
noun (plural loves)
1. Passionate attraction and desire: a passionate feeling of romantic desire and sexual attraction
2. Very strong affection: an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion Young children need unconditional love.
3. Somebody much loved: somebody who is loved romantically or sexually He was her first real love.
4. Strong liking: a strong liking for or pleasure gained from something love of music
5. Something showing enthusiasm: something that expresses deep interest and enthusiasm in somebody
Music was his greatest love but he also liked ballet.
6. Beloved: used as an affectionate word to somebody loved (informal)
7. U.K. term of friendly address: used as a friendly term of address, usually to a woman (informal)
8.YAH's love for humanity: The mercy, grace, and Love shown by YHWH to humanity
9. Worship of YHWH: The praise, worship and adoration of YHWH
Scripture overflows with verses about love, with passages that speak of divine love, brotherly love and romantic love. This is just a few of the many Bible verses about love.
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Song of Solomon 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands love your wives, just as Yahusha loved the chosen and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Yahusha laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:8-12
He that loveth not knoweth not YAH; for YAH is love. (9) In this was manifested the love of YAH toward us, because that Yahuah sent his only begotten Son Yahusha into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved YHWH, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (Atonement) for us. (11) Beloved, if YHWH so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (12) No man hath seen YAH at any time. (seen his fullness, all at one time). If we love one another, YHWH dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us..
1 John 4:18
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.
Romans.8:37-39
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Yahushua.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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, and always perseveres.
Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, that love is patient and love is kind. In other words, it's an expression of something. It is active goodness. The divine love that He is talking about is active continuous goodness (the gifts of the Spirit or the Fruits of the Spirit).
Usually when I read this chapter, I go right for the "love is" section. Love is patient and kind and so on. If we modify the word love and insert the names of our family members, we begin to change the Spiritual atmosphere over our lives and of our families. If we begin confessing the fruits of the Spirit over our families and over our marriage and relationships we will see change, we will see the Fruits of the Spirit manifest.
If we strive to Love one another and center our families around the Love and teachings of Yahusha, then we will begin living according to the Spirit of Yahuah and this is when we grow in an intimate Love affair with our Messiah and Savior Yahusha and this is when we truly experience YAH’s blessings.
Galatians 2:20 is a very well known and loved scripture in the New Testament. But one small point that is not always brought out is the last part of the verse. Paul says that Yahusha ‘loved me and gave himself for me’. ‘He loves me!’ he keeps saying, ‘he did it for me!’ For Paul (and it should be for us),
YHWH’s love is personal. ‘For Yahuah so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son; but for Paul it was more than that. Yahusha loved him personally and gave His life for him! And this should be our cry also. It has been said before that if there were only one sinner who was in need of redemption, Yahusha would have still gone to the tree. It’s true! YHWH’s love is personal
‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, 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 YHWH that is in Yahushua. Romans 8:38-39
In the book of Romans, he had been expressing the way of salvation and all that Yahusha's death means for us. He ends this section with the most emphatic statement that anyone could make about the eternal nature of Yahuah’s love. To those who have come into a true relationship with YHWH, through the death of Yahusha), Paul says that he is convinced that there is absolutely nothing that can separate them from YHWH’s love!
There is nothing in the past that can separate them, nor is there anything in the future. There is nothing in this life that can separate them from YAH’s love, not is there anything in death that could do it. Amazing! YAH’s love will never be taken from those who are truly born again, and we can believe with all assurance that…‘Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of YHWH forever.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Yahusha, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of YHWH.’ Ephesians 3:17-19
Now Paul had experienced a lot to do with YAH’s love. That’s for sure! It’s no wonder that he so eagerly wanted others to experience it for themselves. Here he writes to the Ephesians, and look at the words he uses. He wants them to know this love, grasp the extent of it, be rooted and established in YAH’s love. And look also as the result of doing this, it results in being ‘filled to the measure of all the fullness of YWWH.’ All believers should desire to be filled with YAH's Spirit. Why not pray and concentrate on what Paul prays here? That you may have your eyes open to the extent of YAH’s love for you. Speaking of this agape love, Paul wants us to know the following four things.
The width of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 2:11-18. The love of Yahusha is wide enough to include everyone and exclude none! It reaches out to us gentiles, those ‘having no hope and without YAH in the world’. His love doesn’t look at race, colour, sex, wealth, or status (the very things some do judge by!) but includes all.
The length of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 1:4 and 2:7. It stretches from eternity to eternity. That’s how long it is! In love we were chosen before the foundation of the world. And even in the age to come we will be a demonstration of YAH’s love, kindness and grace. Ephesians 2:7
The depth of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 2:1-5. The depth of His love is shown by the depth of our sin that Yahushua took upon himself to free us. How far He descended so that we could ascend. ‘Dead in our sins’, ‘by nature, children of wrath’, ‘sons of disobedience’. Yet His love for us was such that He humbled Himself, even to the death of the tree.
The height of the love of Yahushua – this is expressed in Ephesians 2:6. Not only did Yahusha plunge down to our depth, but he also raised us up to His heights, seating us with Him in the heavenly places. Is this great position only given to the cream of His disciples? No, His love has performed this to for the lowliest sinner who simply, truly believes.
Let me remind you that YAH wants us all to know the extent of these things, to be rooted and established in them, and to fully grasp and comprehend them. YAH’s love is to be known and experienced. Just as the roots of a tree sink deep into the ground for nourishment, life and stability, so will these things be ours as we are rooted and firmly established in YAH’s love.
2 Corinthians 5:14 ‘For Yahushua’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.’
I know of nothing that is so motivating as the love and grace of YAH. Here Paul writes how Yahusha’s love should work in us in such a way, that it compels us to live for the one who has shown us that love. John writes; Perfect love, casts out all fear, and the one who fears has not been made perfect in love. Love will always be a greater motive than fear for living a life pleasing to Yahusha and staying on the ‘straight and narrow’.
Love will last forever. So love each other. How we Love each other is our first form of witness to a hurting world. Drill that into your mind. It's our first form of witness, how we are with one another, is what bears fruit for YAH.
YAH will be with you as you grow emotionally from an infant who thinks primarily of its own pleasure to a truly Spiritual being, who cares about the needs of others, for YAH is the Power that makes love.
"YAH will be with you, when after days of anxiety and confusion, the dawn breaks and suddenly you see where you are going, for YAH is the Power that makes for a better tomorrow" A new life is ahead of you in Yahusha! YAH is with us, for YAH is love as we completely reunite with the Spirit of YHWH.
“Nothing is worse than knowing that we are not loved by someone who is supposed to love us”. I am worth Loving, so simply Love me!
‘I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.’ John 17:23
When we read the above verse, our natural reaction is to disbelieve it for the love that we experience on earth is nearly always conditional love. We can understand YHWH loving Yahusha so totally and absolutely for He always lived to do the Father’s will. But we don’t! (Always live to do His will).
Does He really love us the same as He loves Yahushua? Yes! Amazing truth, but then, that’s why it’s agape love. An unconditional, free, giving love.
Yahusha said the same thing about His own love for us.
‘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…This is my command: Love each other.’John 15:9-10,17
Yahusha, (again!) is the example for us to follow. His relationship with YHWH is the key to our relationship with YAH. He walked in the fear of the YHWH (put YAH’s will first), was totally dependant upon the Father for His strength ‘By myself I can do nothing’ was His testimony John 5:19, 30, and John 15:5, and through these things obeyed the Father in all things. And so, He says, obey my commandments and you will continue in my love. He emphasises – Love one another. In other words, express to others that same love which YAH has installed in your life. I think we are now back to where we began! Love from a pure heart. YAH’s unconditional love for you comes first. Absolutely. We can only love others, as we have tasted of His love.
Agape love is what Paul encourages. To go the distance, to go deep, agape centered love is what we need and luckily it is also what YHWH gives and what Yahusha displays. It is what Yahusha asks of us. It's what we ask of Yahusha. “Unconditional Love”