In ancient Greek, the word love had three meanings: éros – which was used to describe sensual desire, philía – used for friendship or affection, and agápe – used to describe the love of God.
But in Hebrew, the word love, ahava, has nothing to do with emotion. In the original texts of the Old Testament, the word love had to do with an attitude of faith. It was used to describe the permanent, unconditional surrender of a person’s life to the one they love, without the right to divorce. Difficult? It’s only difficult when love involves emotions of the heart.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…and…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12.30-31
The love mentioned in the first two commandments of God’s Law has nothing to do with the kind of love mentioned in ancient Greek writings. The original texts of the New Testament were written in Greek, but the love they refer to preserves the same spirit of the original Hebrew texts of the Old Testament.
If we treat love as a feeling of the heart, as suggested by ancient Greek texts, it would be impossible to love an Invisible Being, since the heart needs to see in order to feel. Does that make sense?
The ahava that was required by the law of God has to do with absolute conviction. That is, faith. Like the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, practical faith leads a person to surrender to an Invisible and Unknown Being. This offering transcends the emotions of the heart, no matter how profound they may be, because it has to do with reason.
Abraham believed in God, and his belief in that Voice was enough to make him act on it. Because of this, he was considered righteous and sinless before God, to the degree that he was called the friend of God. James 2.23
This is the love that the Creator expects from those He created.
Cristiane Cardoso
hello Bishop,thank you for giving me the definition of love,and it is so ture because it is only by faith you can love what you cannot see,and to have faith it is the mine substance in this life.by faith you are able to give your life to the holy spirit.
Very interesting, so love should not be mistaken as soley an emotion, as the word love was not intended to be used in this way.
I like the definition of love that you have shared, it makes sense that it is a conviction, which is an assurance, which is faith.
This 'ahava' love is like no other, and it can't be found in this world. God has a 'real' love & it makes perfect sense that it depends on faith as its true that we wouldn't be able to love someone we cannot see.
so hard but its really true. An emotional heart can hardly overcome. the love had to be with god makes you stronger without emotion.
Very strong bishop, I never heard of ahava love. But its absolutely true what you said. You could never love or commit full heartedly to a person you never saw. This 21 days fasting is teaching us a lot and spiritally we are growing.
This remind me when I first heard the name Jesus 22 years ago. I was taught of this three kinds of love, because of my ignorant I believed and even shared to others. Until the time I was found and enlighten upon reading and hearing the Word of God. I really thanks the men of God in UCKG that proclaim the truth to make me a new person.
God is my all.
Jane-Hong Kong
And ahava is the only kind of love that can make us forever happy ...
thank you Bishop for this wise message
thank you bishop for taking us to the right way.
Good expanation of love and very helpful especially in trusting God as the Good creator
Bishop, I totaly agree with you because I believe. No one will surrender his all to a stranger or to someone you do not love otherwise one may withraw along the way or divorce.
Thus, one have to be absolutely convicted and act in faith to show this unconditional love.
Something amazing is this: through the death of Jesus, which is the unconditional love of God to humanity, sins are atoned for.
May God help us to believe as father Abraham did.
May God Almighty bless u Bp
Dear bishop, this message is very strong and it does apply to all of us, and I think that why many times it took long for people to convert themselves to God, because instead of using thei faith to give themselves totally to Him, they did everything by emotions. Faith is an assurance of what we don't see but believe wholeheartly.
Thank you for sharing.
The love of God it's a sacrifice that's why the Lord Jesus died on the cross. True love it's not emotion it's faith!
UCKG Philippines
So true Bishop, and its obvious that AHAVA is purely unconditional and intelligent !!!
the love of GOD RequirE faith not emotion..through the HOLY SPIRIT our lyf will be full of love..keep in faith...AMEN..
GOD BLESS U ALL
MAC ASTILLO- PILIPINAS
I have never heard of this kind of love in my life... I must put this into practice immediately! thank you and Jesus for teaching us about ahava!
Thank you Bishop, this message makes a world of sense to me. Our love for God cannot be heartfelt, but its is expressed in our unconditional desire to submit to Him.
The love generated by the Holy Spirit, in addition to safe, pure and holy, is the love
makes us obedient in God's presence
May God Bless you Bishop and all your Family
Thank you Bishop,this makes perfect sense.