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“Wither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Wither is thy beloved turned aside? That we may seek him with thee?” Song 6: 1
Some see our faith in God and the spiritual blessings we enjoy and our great love for him and they inquire, “Where? Where can we find this wonderful love that you possess?”
“My beloved is gone down into His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather His lilies.” Song 1: 2
We will find God’s love manifested in His garden which is the church of God. The lilies that he gathers are the saints of God- pure white lilies made clean by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ- They are made to be like Jesus who is “the Lilly of the valleys” Song 2:1
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13: 34-35
“Be kindly affectioned (affectionate) one to another with brotherly love…” Romans 12:10
affectionate: having affection – a tender attachment, fondness, feeling, or warm regard: LOVING
“From whom (Jesus Christ) the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16
We see God’s love manifested in His true body of believers. This love is an essential, integral part of His body. It is not a fake, nicey, flattering, surfacey love; but real, warm and affectionate. It emanates from hearts that have been born again and filled with the love of God.
This love is so strong and deep that it goes beyond the earthly ties of family;
“Then said one unto Him (Jesus), behold, thy mother and they brethren stand without desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matt 12: 47-50
God’s love is manifested in his people and the godly care they have for one another;
“Rejoice with them that so rejoice and weep with them that weep.” Rom 12: 15
Examples of Godly Affection:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother… when Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” John 19: 25-27
“He then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him, Lord, is it I?” John 13:25
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:2 “unto Timothy, my own son in the faith…”
This love was constantly reinforced to the early church:
“Seeing that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Peter 1:22
“Let brotherly love continue.” Heb 13: 1
“Behold what manner of love that Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the son’s of God…We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren… Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our love for the brethren. But whoso hath this worlds good and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John3: 1, 14, 16, 17
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4: 7
So you see, the Bible teaches us that we will find Gods love among His people. Many say they cannot believe in God because of all the suffering and wrong they see in the world. How can a loving God allow such a thing? Well, the choices of man to sin are what allows such a thing. In this world we see the effects of sin and it is the direct opposite of the effects of love and living for God. As deep and as ugly as sin goes, on the opposite end is the depths of God’s love manifested- made known by his true people. What end will you choose to be on?
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