27/10/08

Change in Love

John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

The most difficult thing, even if we understand all the knowledge and all gifts; yet we would not be able to understand love. And we are all as Christians - followers of Christ, are called to exhibit this same property.

To give you a summarized idea, the love commanded of us towards our neighbors (God's people) during the time of Moses was different from the love commanded towards our neighbors and towards others by Jesus.

Matthew 5:43-44
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, ...

The word love in Matt 5:43 'You shall love your neighbor' is the Greek word 'agapao' and it has the TVM: Tense - Future, Voice - Active and Mood - Indicative.

The word love in Matt 5:44 'But I say to you, love your enemies' is the same Greek word 'agapao' but has the TVM: Tense - Present, Voice - Active and Mood - Imperative.

And the love command towards another believer or people of God is different.

John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

The word 'love' in 'that you love one another' is again 'agapao' but with TVM: Tense - Present, Voice - Active and Mood - Subjunctive. Subjunctive is described as 'The subjunctive mood is the mood of possibility and potentiality. The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances.'

The word 'love' in 'as I have loved you' is with the TVM: Tense - Aorist, Voice - Active and Mood - Indicative.

Aorist is described as 'The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time.'

I know I may have confused you with all this. What I want to get to is that the simple thing like loving is not simple and we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to love another human being or even God Himself.

So to love since all the Voices are Active, let there be full efforts from us, but on how and to what level let us depend on the Holy Spirit who dwell in us.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Lord, your love is perfect and You have demonstrated it in Jesus Christ and in my daily life. Lord I do not know how to love and ask You to show me how to love through your Spirit which dwells in me, so that I can be your true disciple. I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)