Seven [7] Dimensions Of Love Part 7 - Love is Friendship

When the souls of the lovers are one, how can their minds be different? The sharing of mind or thought is called friendship. Aristotle said,

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

Friendship is another important dimension of love. Just like one can rely on friends in the hour of need, same is true with love. Love is not sustainable without the meeting of mind. Even a religious person, who loves God, actually develops a sort of friendship with God. He can communicate with God and understand His thoughts. A man in love with his beloved knows her thoughts effortlessly. If you love your child, you are also his or her best friend. When you talk to a child, you automatically use his language, style and language to communicate. You play with him like a child. Friendship transforms you from an adult to a child. The children who love their parents are never awed by their greatness or meanness as they find them at the same level as themselves. Thus friendship is always present between people who love.

What is Love without All the Dimensions

Most people make mistake in their understanding of love. A man and woman may think that love is nothing but physical attraction. Yet such love does not sustain unless it is complete with its entire dimension. Therefore, the love based on mere physical attraction does not last long unless it is filled with compassion, respect, trust, caring, sharing and friendship. Love to God is no exception. God can not be found merely by praying or following the rituals. One has to also have compassion with God and develop friendship with Him by knowing His mind. A lover of God must care and share His creations by doing charities and doing good for other people in the world who are all children of God. Love is therefore, rightly described as the greatest knowledge of the world as it is the means as well as the end of everything that one want to learn, feel and know.

See All Seven Dimensions Of Love Topics

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6 

Part 7

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Cultivating the Love of God

Have you ever wondered why some people are repelled by Christians? Many believers may want to say that being a Christian convicts non-believers of their sin. However, in many cases, it is because they find them proud, arrogant, judgmental, or self-righteous. Thus, there is now a popular saying that is circulating about Christians, we are "known more for what we are against rather than by what we believe..." What a painful rebuke! But there is truth to it that we cannot deny.

God has indeed commanded Christians to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of men. This task involves teaching, as well as correcting and rebuking others as God's Spirit leads. But teaching or correcting others according to the teachings of Jesus must always be done in love. John 13:35 tells us that unbelievers will know we are Christians by our love. This part however, is not easy because as Christians, we also have things in ourselves that we are working to change.

So how do you cultivate the love of God in your heart?

Asking The Holy Spirit

Romans 5:5 tells us that "hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." No matter how good we are, true love that has the power to transform lives can only come from the God's Spirit. Luke 19:9-13 tells us that if we ask God, he will give us his Holy Spirit. Giving love, therefore, begins with asking God humbly, to "pour out his love on our hearts."

Being Grateful

Gratefulness towards God leads to love towards men. In Luke 7:47, Jesus said that the one who has been forgiven much loves much. In our Christian walk, we must always remind ourselves of what God has done for us. This is not so as to bring feelings of guilt and remorse upon recollection of our past sinful state, but rather, to cultivate gratefulness in our hearts. Matthew 10:8 says "...Freely you have received; freely give." The more we are aware of the grace God has bestowed on us, the more we are able give love to others.

Staying Humble

Acknowledgment of our weaknesses and shortcomings is good because it cultivates gratefulness; and it also creates empathy for those who might be struggling with weaknesses as well. This is another key to cultivating the love of God in our hearts.

No matter how mature we become in the faith, we will have struggles that keep us always desperate for God's grace. These struggles keep our feet on the ground and our hearts 
Humble Before Men

One of the reasons why we become proud and self-righteous in dealing with others is because we forget how much Jesus has suffered for our sins. Sometimes, we forget that it was completely by grace through faith that we have been saved. We start thinking that we somehow deserve the merits of this blessed Christian walk.

Just imagine if we can all walk in humility before God and men. Perhaps, the next time challenges our patience, we will feel compassion instead of anger upon remembering how terrible life is without Jesus.

Never Failing to Forgive

Matthew 7:1 reminds us to not judge others so that we too will not be judged. The Lord's prayer teaches us that God forgives our sins as we have forgiven others who have wronged us. Forgiveness is an expression of God's love and we find ourselves able to forgive others when we are most aware of how much we have been forgiven. That is why it is important to stay grateful and humble. It's a wonderful cycle that leaves no room for boasting. Christianity thrives on gratefulness for the cross of Christ.

There will be times, of course, when we would feel that no matter how hard we try, it is just difficult to love others the way Jesus loves us. During such times, we must not condemn ourselves for falling short. Instead, we should use it to seek God and receive his forgiveness. Remember, he who is forgiven much, loves much. And 1 Peter 4:8 assures us that love covers a multitude of sins.

As we learn to walk in love more and more, more people will respond to the Gospel that we preach with our mouths because they have already seen it at work in our lives. This is exactly what Jesus is saying by "we will be known by our love" -- that the Gospel is preached effectively if we live it rather than just speak it. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, "love never fails." If we keep on loving others, it is bound to be felt by them. People will always recognize genuine compassion. Thus, this is the challenge and joy given to us as Christians: to pursue a life that radiates God's love, because as Dwight L. Moody said, "Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible and ninety nine will read the Christian."

Jesus said I will keep thee in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me. Learn how to eliminate worry, negative thinking, and stress by meditating on the Lord. Listen to Christ-centered meditation Cds that teach you how to take authority over your thoughts and bring them under the kingdom of God.

QUESTION:

How do you cultivate the love of God in your heart so that you could draw others to God?

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The love of God is our greatest asset

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). Your success in life is determined by your most important asset.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life [John 3:16]

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things  [Romans 8:32]

We love Him because He first loved us  [I John 4:19] 

The love of God is the reason I can face tomorrow. I know that His love for me will see me through the day. If God did not spare Jesus for the love that He has for us (John 3:16), there is nothing that He will not freely give or do for us (Romans 8:32).

Why the love of God is our greatest asset

1. Fear is destroyed

When I remember that God loves me and will not allow any evil to come upon me, every form of fear disappears (1 John 4:18). God is the Almighty God and every being and thing bows before Him, including whatever is causing fear in me. God's love gives me the assurance that I am covered.

2. Peace is Ours 

Peace floods our mind and spirit when we meditate on my Father's love for us, no matter the challenge that we face(Isaiah 26:3). His love gives us an overcomer's mentality, which dominates any thought contrary to what God says concerning us in His word.

3. Hope

Sometimes, circumstances around us try to discourage us but when we focus on God's love for us, We shake off the discouraging thoughts, hope comes alive in us and we should remind ourselves that all things will work together for our own good (Romans 8:28).

4. Faith

Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). The love of God strengthens our faith. When I remember that everything God wrote in His word is for our good because He loves us, I tend to believe and act on it. Our faith comes alive as we understand the depth of God's love for us. It makes us to totally trust in God and in His word.

5. Love for God and for our neighbors

We are able to love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). He gave His only son Jesus for us! It is easier to love others if we compare the sacrifice we will make loving them with the sacrifice God made loving us. The love of God shed abroad in our heart (Romans 5:5) empowers us to love God and other people. Let’s praise God for this grace to love Him and our fellowmen.

In conclusion, God's love for us is our greatest asset because it builds our Christian life and empowers us to please God and to be a blessing to our fellowmen. Glory to God! Amen.

Questions:

1. What is your greatest asset in life?
2. What do you cherish most?

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The Love of God Is Powerful: It Produces True Relationship With God, Faith, and a Sound Mind

The love of God is indeed powerful. We are told to keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21). We are told to stay rooted and grounded in the love of God (Eph 3:17). Jesus tells us to abide in his love (John 15:10). There is reason for this.

We can't have true relationship with God unless we live in his love. Too many live by law, not in love, and the two are mutually exclusive. You can't know the love of God living in the law of God. Also, God's love produces faith, and a sound mind.

Let's look at these more closely, and see true spiritual power at work.

THE LAW OF GOD

The law of God is the center of the Old Covenant. The love of God is the center of the New Covenant. We are intended to live in the New Covenant only, to the exclusion of the Old (Heb 9:9-10, 10:9). Jesus said, "Don't pour new wine into old bottles." In other words, don't mix the New with the Old.

We are to be ministers of the New Testament only, because the Old merely produces condemnation (II Cor 3:6). Besides no one could live by it (Acts 15:10).

THE LOVE OF GOD

The love of God is the most powerful force in the world. God approached us in love through the person of Jesus Christ, and gave us his gospel to live in which reveals God's love to us. It reveals his grace. It reveals God's righteousness in us. It is God's love that produces his peace and his joy in us, regardless of earthly circumstances.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

God's love produces true relationship with him. We can't have experience true relationship with him if we don't abide in his love, just like the branch abides in the vine (John 15:1-5). Everything begins with God's love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son."

If we don't know God's love for us, then we live in SELF, and our vain attempts to receive the love of God by means of what we do: our performance. This is always motivated by laws and rules.

Love produces fellowship with God in his gospel (Phil 1:5).

FAITH AND LOVE

Galatians 5:6 says, "Faith works by love." This is not talking about our human love, but God's divine love. Human love is shallow compared to God's incomprehensible, unconditional, eternal love.

When God's love is joined with the faith of Christ in us, as Paul says in Galatians 2:17, 20 (KJV) and elsewhere, it is a dynamic power working in us. If we don't know God's love, because we live in law - and thus don't know the faith of Jesus working in us, we can't experience this dynamic power of faith working through love.

LOVE = A SOUND MIND, POWER OF THE MIND

I say it a lot: the gospel is intended to straighten out our thinking. Jesus said to repent of ALL other beliefs, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Gospel truth is what the whole ministry of Jesus was about (John 18:37). It must be preached in all the world before the end will come (Matt 24:14).

The gospel is what reveals God's love in us.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Tim 1:7). So much is said about the power of the mind today. It is being separated to gospel truth, as Paul says he was in Romans 1:1, that creates in us the power of the mind - resulting in a sound mind.

God's love is like the seed that is planted in us that produces a strong root. Then, this strong root produces good fruit and good consequences in all areas of life. 

Paul says it is the gospel that does this (Col 1:5-6).

Love propels us into righteousness (II Cor 3:9), and reconciliation (atonement or 'at-one-ment') with God (II Cor 5:18).

It is God's love in us that causes us to continually increase in his love, and then spill over and abound over with it to others (I Thes 3:12).

RELATIONSHIP, FAITH AND A SOUND MIND

When we truly get a revelation of the power of God's love in us, then we truly live in intimate relationship with our Father, as we all long to.

His love then produces his faith in us. His love then produces a sound mind in us - which only a life lived in the gospel can produce.

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Believing in and Experiencing God's Love

Now, I cannot even begin to say how God came to be-He just is. It is beyond me to fathom beyond God. Perhaps that is because I see all life as contained in Him. And nothing that exists can exist outside Him.

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Acts 17:28

Anyway, to start with, I accept this premise: that there is a substance called Energy in our universe and it is intelligent, it is relational, it is unconditional love and I, along with millions of others, call it God. Down through the ages people have experienced and documented personal encounters of such substance that you could never convince them that the God they know and love is not real. I am one of these and I am truly humbled by the various experiences I have been graced to experientially know and hope with all my heart that I can, in some small way, generate a desire within any and all I encounter to meet with God in some similar kind of way-because I know what great joy and peace it has brought to me.

Over my life time, from my earliest memories up till today, I have sought to know and understand God's love for me and the way it works in and through my life. I have taken a lot of circular journeys and I guess, there are lot more to come, but at this point right here, I'd like to share how I see things now. Even if you don't agree with me on all these points, I hope you are able to see the things that really matter- and believe them.

1. How much God loves you

2. Why He came in the form of Jesus and

3. How knowing and relying on this love changes everything forever.

In the 'beginning'... my simplified paraphrase.

A long time ago (and in spite of the arguments, it really doesn't matter when), God, who is all and is in all, decided to have a family. Why? I think we can answer a lot of things about God, when we simply consider ourselves. Why do we want family? Why do we want relationships? It feels good to connect and share experiences.

Well, I think, it's because God wanted someone like himself to relate to. He's one of a kind. I'm not trying to disentangle the triune aspect of God here, but suffice it to say, the Trinity is ONE consciousness. There was no other 'like God' that had a separate consciousness centre until Adam- the first man. When God breathed into Adam and he became a living soul, God finally had a friend 'of his own kind'-capable of giving and receiving love on a spiritual plane. Also, 'life begets life' (one of my sayings) and something in us wants to expand and grow and multiply.

God also immediately appreciated that Adam would need someone to share with in this way too, because although he was spiritual and could fellowship with God, he was also physical and needed someone to commune with via those senses. God gave Him Eve.

Now, here's the important thing: Adam came from God-the same way a droplet of water comes from the ocean-but when that tiny 'seed' from God was clothed in flesh, it had the ability to think independently of its Father Creator, and for the first time, experienced some level of autonomy. This is why Adam was created, so God could enjoy fellowshipping WITH someone who chose to, and had the capacity to love him back the same way (but this is also why they could fall for the lie of being apart from God). This is why God 'gave birth' to himself in the flesh. God saw himself in his creation and loved them. Every human being that has come forth into life on planet earth is an individuated fragment of what was the SINGLE consciousness we call God, just like Adam and Eve.

Having the ability to think freely and responsibly care for their environment and for humankind to genuinely love the Father, there needed to be a choice not to. This choice is what is represented by the two trees in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

I know, for a long time, I pondered how these trees could represent contrast and I have explored many layers of possibility.

I had no trouble understanding the tree of Life as being all the good that is in existence, including immortality, but how could knowing about good and evil become an opposing power to love and life?Weren't we supposed to study to know what was 'good' so we could be 'pleasing'? And so we could feel happy?

Apparently not. We were pleasing and loved and enjoyed without knowing any of those 'rules'. This is the climate of unconditional love. This is the truth of who we are and what we have in and with God, when we know we are loved. We are free to give and receive love without any thought of self at all-other than to BE. FREEDOM from all condemnation, fear, lack (inadequacy), guilt, self abasement and scrutiny was to be our experience. Total peace and wholeness.

The reason the trees represent opposing states is because the first represents life in the light of God's love, connected in that ONE consciousness, at peace and whole. The second presents existence in the absence of it and is brought about through believing in the ILLUSION of separation. The only reason Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was because they yielded to the notion that they were not already 'like God'(Gen 3:4), possibly because they had bodies. Well, some would say Eve fell for the lie but Adam didn't want to feel separated from Eve, and chose to follow her lead instead of being the leader. It was an issue of identity on both counts. The 'fall of man' was the severance of man from the ONE spiritual consciousness into a place of fear. Fear comes because the consciousness has disconnected from Love and become physically oriented, 'self' centred and self condemning. The EGO is born. It was not God that made Adam and Eve feel this way, but the alienation brought about by their own 'separate' thinking.

"There is no fear in Love. Perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with punishment" I John 4:18

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour."

Col 1:21 ('evil' being that which is born from FEAR-for the thoughts that inspired the behaviour came from that which is not love).

Once the sense of separation took them down in their thinking, the process of separation from LIFE simply continued, eventually destroying the flesh that would otherwise have continued on untouched by sickness or age. This state of separation, being what they now knew as their reality was then passed on from generation to generation, taking a firmer grip with each cycle and continuing to shorten the average life length. In some ways, we could say it peaked, manifesting in the enslavement of Israel by the Pharaoh.The inner state had become the outer condition.

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GOD IS GOOD

When something awful happens the first person that often gets blamed is God. Some catastrophes are actually called "acts of God." But the Bible tells us that the Lord is GOOD.

Because God is all knowing and all powerful, I guess it's natural for you to believe that sickness, disease and other devastating events are ordained by Him. But let me remind you that you have an enemy that wages war against you every day. I believe he is the author of everything terrible and tries to convince you that God is behind it all.

It's a strategy the devil has used for years and it keeps God's children from running to Him with open arms. Why would you be motivated to get to know someone who destroys homes, families, and dreams? No! John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. The thief is the devil. On the other hand, Jesus came to give you abundant life.

Some Christians believe that God allows catastrophe to teach them a lesson. But I want you to ask yourself this question. If you could, would you use a life threatening illness or a flood to teach your child a lesson? I don't think so. You want the best for your children. If you are a good parent, you will correct your child, but you wouldn't put something on them that has the potential to destroy them. If you being human wouldn't consider using devastation to teach your children, God, the best parent of all, certainly wouldn't. As one Bible teacher explained, that would be child abuse.

Let me say it again. The Lord is GOOD. You are His precious child and He wants the best for you.

Beloved, make it your endeavor to know God as He wants to be known. God is love. God is good. In light of these qualities, check out what you are allowing in your life.

Embrace God's love and receive His goodness by declaring it over your life each day. When you do, you'll find it easier to trust the Lord because you'll be convinced He has your best interest at heart.

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GOD IS LOVE

Everything God has done, is doing and will do for you is motivated by love. He went to the cross for you because of love. He has given you more than 3,000 promises that address every aspect of your life because of love.

Notice that God doesn't just give love, He IS love. I guess you can say God is made of love.

The definition of love is noted in I Corinthians 13. We can apply all of these attributes to God. God is patient, kind, humble, seeks not His own. Think about that last one for a minute. All of God's commandments and His individual guidance is for YOUR benefit, not His.

Has the enemy of your soul ever tried to convince you that God doesn't think much of you? Don't believe it for a second! God NEVER thinks evil of you.

God loves truth. He "bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, His hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and He endures everything [without weakening]. GOD NEVER FAILS" - I Corinthians 13:7-8a, Amplified Bible.

This kind of love flows to you every day. You ought to remind yourself of that and embrace it.

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Know God As He Wants to Be Known

Do you know God as He wants to be known? Are you intimately acquainted with His true nature? To know God as He really is will draw you into a more intimate relationship with Him.

The study of the holy bible is going to help dispel any wrong notions you might have. It's going to help you know God and love Him more deeply.

To know God as He really is will also help you discern what is of God and what is not. It will uncover the work of the devil in your life so that you can use your authority to drive him out.

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Does God Really Love People?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3:16 (KJV). Yes, God truly loves the world. Circumstances, experiences of people, wrong information and lack of the knowledge of God have made people to wonder whether God really loves people. This article is to assure you that God surely loves and cares for people.

People for one reason or another, doubt God's love for them. Some people conclude on the nature of God by comparing Him with men who are in positions as fathers in their lives and do not love people. These are men who do not understand what it means to be a father and have failed as fathers.

Also, the perspective of people of God as one autocratic god, who has a sledge-hammer ever ready to use it without mercy, contributes to them doubting God's love. Yes, God disciplines us, as a true father should, but with the other hand He comforts us and guides us on the right path to take.

Now, an understanding of God and His love for people will wipe away all fears and misunderstandings.

God is love(1 John 4:8). It is God's nature to love. He doesn't just love people, He is love personified. And just like 2 Timothy 2:13 says, God will not deny Himself even if we don't believe. God doesn't wait for us to love Him first before He showers His love on us. If we are sincere, we will recount times that unexpected good things happened to us despite the wrong actions we took - that was God's love in action.

God loves sinners but hates sin. God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us - Romans 5:8 (AMP). This fact was also demonstrated in the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), when Jesus visited and ate in his house. He was referred to as a sinner by people, yet Jesus ate in his house. And this love shown to him by Jesus made him turn from his evil ways. God is interested in us turning away from our sins more than in punishing us.

His love overshadows judgment. Surely whatever we sow we will reap but in the midst of the judgment God still showers us with His love. For instance, when Adam disobeyed God and obeyed the devil, God pronounced judgment on him and Eve and at the same time, made skin clothing for them, better than the leaves they were trying to use to cover themselves (Genesis 3:7,16-21).

The challenge is that guilt turns off the manifestation of God's love. When you dwell on the wrong you committed, you give the enemy the opportunity to lie to you. You will start thinking that God can't love people like you. Next, you will start expecting evil to happen to you, etc. All these will not allow you to see God reaching out to help you. Yes, He hates what you did but He still loves you.

An illustration of this truth is seen in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). When he put aside the guilt and reached out for his father, he got more than he bargained for. His father, who was longing for his return, restored him as a son. Yes, he lost his own share of the inheritance but he was welcomed home. Now, he can gradually but comfortably build up wealth for himself again.

Furthermore, adulterated information lies about God's love for people. "Faith comes by hearing..." (Romans 10:17). So also doubt comes by hearing. What you hear affects your belief system. Evil stories people hear about God paint pictures of a god that does not love people. The best place to get correct information about God is in the word of God (Bible). The bible paints the correct picture of God and His love for people.

Truly, lack of the knowledge of God is the root cause of doubt about God's genuine love for people. When you know God and experience Him, no one will ever dissuade you from believing in His love again.

Many times I have gone through challenges, but the knowledge of God's love for me keeps me steady. It also gives me the strength to reach out to Him for help. And He has never failed me. The answer may not have come immediately but I always came out victorious. One thing I am very sure of in my life is that God loves me and loves everybody.

In conclusion, God really loves people. No matter what you may be going through now or what people are saying about God, God's love for people is real and assured.

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