Living in the Shadow of His Hand

 

Do You Love Me?

It’s a question not often asked, and often the answer is false.  Some will tell you they love you and prove it.  Others will say they love you, but they don’t show it. 

There are many kinds of love in the Bible that have been translated into the English word “love”.  Yet we all know that there are different levels of love, and the Bible used several words to explain the level.

Agape is the highest form of love, which is what we have from God the Father. It is to love dearly, to welcome, to be well pleased.  Agape love is to be reciprocated to God in our actions.

Phileo is an affectionate love. It gives us approval, sanction, kind treatment.  It’s the type of love that families have for each other.

In the following verses, Jesus had rose from the dead and visited the disciples several times.  Jesus came to visit the disciples again and asks the question “Do you love me?” to Peter.  This was after Peter had denied Jesus three times while He was being tortured and prepared for the cross. Jesus asks the question “Do you love me?” three times – exactly as many times he denied Him.

From John 21:15-17, we read:

“So, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agape) Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agape) Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (phileo) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo) You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep”.” 

Note that Jesus uses the word Agape, the love for and of God, for his first two questions. Peter answered both times with Phileo love.  In the third question, Jesus uses the word Phileo, as family love, and Peter answered with the same Phileo love. 

There’s a big difference between Phileo and Agape.  Phileo doesn’t require anything in return.  But Agape love will cause you to be obedient to God.  It will cause you to listen to His every word, and act upon it. 

In Genesis 22 God tells Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering, a sacrifice to God.  Abraham took his son and went to Mt. Moriah as he was told.  He strapped his son to the altar and was about to set it on fire when an Angel called from Heaven and told him not to lay a hand on him for God is providing the sacrifice.  Then the angel delivered a message that Abraham would be blessed and multiply as the number of the stars.  Abraham was acting on Agape love.  His obedience to God proved his love.

To truly love God, you must be obedient to Him.  Obedience is what He wants - not sacrifices.  When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, he wanted to hear agape love.  Agape love will make us obedient to God from the love in our hearts for Him.  We will act upon His words and find joy in serving Him.  Peter would have “feed my sheep” if he was filled with agape love. He would have fed the sheep, which were those that believed in Jesus.  But instead, he only had phileo love.

How do we attain Agape love for God?  We must get to know Him!  We must know His words, His behavior toward us, His plans for us, and His undying love for us.  It’s not enough friends for us to know that God loves us, is omnipotent, can do the impossible, and so on.  We must learn to LOVE God with Agape love.  Reading your Bible, staying in prayer with Him, listening to His still small voice will bring you closer to Him.

When a woman falls in love with a man, she wants to know everything about him.  What he likes, what he hates, what is his favorite color, and oh so much more!  We try our best to be pleasing to the man we love. 

To be acceptable to God, we must obey Him.  Yes, Jesus has covered our sins! Yes, God forgives our sins.  Yes, God casts them far away from the east to the west.  That is His mercy.  But to experience His love fully, you must fall in agape love with Him.  Seek Him!  A woman spends time with the man she is in love with.  It works the same way with God. Spend time with Him.  Get closer to Him.  Your agape love will grow.

God bless you!