The Fullness of God’s Encompassing Love (by Ricky Lee Jackson)

Dear Friends,

My good friend Mike Galeotti had a wonderful message today at our little "Wild Branch" worship gathering. It had to do with our view of love. We've all heard that quote from the Bible in 1st John that says "God is love". But what does that really mean? We each have our own sense, our own definition, if you will, of love. So it really is important to ask whether our personal sense of what love is, is big enough to get an accurate picture of who our God really is.

So who does He says He is?

We know, or at least give lip service to, God's loving us -- loving humanity. We might even ascribe to a belief in His love being unconditional (and it surely is!). And with this foundation we are released from "works and legalism" as we trust in His great atoning, sacrificial love for us. But that says little about whether He likes us, whether He enjoys just being with us, whether the Great God of the universe would like to be -- our friend!

The Bible speaks of not one, but three types of love, and since God claims to be love personified, might He claim to encompass (and actually be) All that love is?

The first category of love is called Agape, that type of love that loves selflessly, without needing to be loved in return -- its just Who God is. But there are two more loves in Scripture -- Philao, and Eros -- and God is also in these loves, and they too are a part of His essence!

Philao, that love that is characterized by friendship, is just as much a part of God's person and character as is His agape love! And that means He does like us, and wants to be our friend! That statement Jesus made to His close disciples about "I no longer call you servants, but friends", now starts to make sense -- and I am convinced that He applies that friendship also to me, and to you too!

So do we stop here, with love the sacrificial principle, added to the privilege of being in friendship? This would be a lot, and we should not be ungrateful were this all of love we might expect from God. But -- one love is left, and God doesn’t do things part-way, so dare we expect to also be loved with Eros love as well?

Shockingly, scandalously even -- the answer is yes! I believe He gave us the intimacy of human marriage in part to help us understand more fully the depth of His love and desire for us—being “one” with us, a part of each other, “naked and unashamed” in each other’s presence (our shame being left at the Cross!), truly being filled by His love!  But don’t take my word for it -- hear His words -- “you are My bride!” And when faced with our unfaithfulness He cries “I am a lover spurned!... I am a jealous for your heart God”!

Yes, the love of God, the love that is God, is deeper, more complete, and more passionate and real than we can imagine! But it is real, and it is meant for us, to transform us and renew and elevate us. God is love, a very big love, a saving love! But also a love that encompasses so much more -- friendship, camaraderie, common purpose, and even the depths of intimacy, of “oneness”!

How great a love is He, how great is His love for us!

God bless us!
And may our great loving gracious God bless America!

Ricky Lee Jackson