Yesterday I challenged you to tell us the difference between brotherly love and love as used in 2 Peter 1:7. Here is what I found.
We discussed brotherly love last week. It is a compound word in Greek - literally could be translated love of the brother, or brotherlove. The love part of the word used is the love that means affection. It's a love that comes from being family. In a sense it is kind of earned. Sort of. I love you because we are family. I like to be with you. I feel affection for you as a family member. Now if you did not have a great family, that might actually be a challenging concept, but I think you can understand the idea.
This week's "love" is a different kind of love. This week's love is a love that is not earned. Here are some comments from Vine:
Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9, 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, cp. Deut. 7:7,8....Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith, Gal. 5:10.
So what does that look like in a woman's life? Read the following verses and think about this concept of love.
3 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
I had a hard time choosing a woman in the Bible that exemplified this kind of love. No one does it perfectly, of course. But today I want to look at how this love looks in a married woman's life and extend that out to any woman's life. A married woman is to be like Sarah - submissive to her own husband, obeying him, giving him respect, and not being afraid. This can truly be an example of love when your husband is maybe not what he should be. Understand that I am not talking about an abusive or fornicating husband, but one who is just not perfect. The godly wife chooses to submit and respect him anyway. How can she do that? She understands what love means. She understands how God loves HER. She has a gentle and quiet spirit because of God's love, and she can reflect that on to those around her.
Now let's look at the whole context of this passage from the viewpoint of this kind of love. Why are wives told to be submissive? They can bring their husbands to obedience to God with this powerful attitude. That is love. Why is a gentle and quiet spirit so very precious in God's sight? Again, it brings others to God. It allows a woman to think with her head instead of just with her emotions. She can look at her situation, determine exactly what the problem is, and figure out just what biblical principle applies to solve it. She doesn't have to be afraid because she trusts in God and knows His love. Her tank doesn't run dry because she stays plugged in to her power source.
A woman who is not married does not have quite the same submission issues, although we all have to submit to someone. But still, that attitude of service and quietness does the same thing to those around her - brings them to God. I know a woman who was involved in some counseling with her husband for some addiction issues he was facing. When asked by the counselor what it meant when his wife said, "I love you," he thought and then truthfully responded that he did not know. He had never experienced unconditional love before he married her. He didn't understand why her family liked him. The counselor explained to the wife that at this point her husband was probably incapable of accepting and understanding God's love without her help. She had to be the example of unconditional love for him. Through her love, he could come to accept God's love. She had to stop saying, "I love you" for a time and start saying, "I like you." That was something he COULD understand. In time, with her patience and his continued study and effort, he did come to accept God's love for him and today is a faithful member of the Lord's family. Do you see what a powerful thing love is? Do you understand the influence you have? God can use your unconditional love to save souls. You become a picture of your Father to those who would otherwise not understand.
Your assignment for today:
1. Read 1 Corinthians 13. Make a list of what love looks like. I know you have probably done this at some point in the past, but do it again.
2. Have an interview prayer time with God about what you have read. Ask Him to show you the ways you can improve in your love for those around you and give you the strength you may need to do so.
3. Post "Done" when you have completed this assignment.
1 comment:
Done. :)
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