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Just a little vent(?) of mine. Wanted the input of others, too. I know very well that, as a human being, there are things beyond my knowledge that I cannot ever comprehend. I was never meant to comprehend those things. Even so, it hurts. How can I really call this ‘love’ if I can’t understand the one my love is directed towards? It’s a fundamentally one-sided comprehension: he gets to know every single aspect of me, and yet I can’t see anything more than a minuscule fraction of his being. I understand that I’m not entitled to this knowledge. I know that it would probably break me if I were to try and learn the things which have been hidden from me. Even so, I can’t help but yearn for that deeper connection – The ability to love someone in their entirety as is being granted to me. It isn’t reciprocal. Does it hurt anyone else to know that the one you love the most is also the only one you can never fully understand?
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The love of God is a love in which His power works. The human love that people speak of is nothing more than fleshly affection and emotional attachment. Thus, it is always a fickle love—an unstable love that sways according to standards and emotions, a calculated love built on personal conditions. For example, even between husband and wife, human love rises and falls depending on momentary moods and feelings; such love is neither the love of Christ nor the love of God. Even when two people claim to love one another, the moment the other person does not act according to one’s wishes or expectations, the first thing that arises is disappointment. That disappointment grows into dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction grows into resentment, resentment grows into conflict, and conflict grows into strife. This is human affection—nothing but emotional and fleshly love that has nothing to do with the love of God, which follows the love of Christ, a love that lays down even one’s own life.
Even between parents and children, when the other does not act according to one’s wishes, the parent becomes disappointed, that disappointment grows into dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction grows into resentment, and resentment leads to rebuke and scolding. Conversely, when children feel their parents are not doing what they desire or expect, disappointment, dissatisfaction, and resentment lead the child to argue against and resist the parent. This is the limitation of all human love. A love based on calculated expectations—on getting what one wants or desires from the other—is neither the true love of Christ nor the unwavering love of God.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.(2 Corinthians 7 : 11)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.(1 John 3 : 3~9)
The love of God is not something anyone can obtain easily. There are clear conditions for receiving the love of God: it can be obtained only when one follows the love of Christ—the love that pursues His suffering and sacrifice even to the point of laying down one’s own life—and when one takes up the cross and follows Him under that condition. Therefore, this love can be received only by those who seek to live a true Christian life in order to fulfill the hope of Christ and to gain the love of Christ that follows the will of God.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.(Luke 9 : 23~24)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.(1 John 3 : 16)
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.(Romans 14 : 7)
A child who follows the love of God does not live or die for themselves. Therefore, unlike Esau, they do not seek worldly concerns for their own blessing—such as problems in family, business, relationships, children, or health.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.(Romans 5 : 3~5)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.(Titus 3 : 4~7)
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;(Titus 1 : 2~3)
The love of God—given only to those who possess the hope of Christ and follow His love—is powerful and mighty. In other words, the love of God is poured out within the hope that follows the love of Christ, leading a person to receive the divine power that destroys the evil habits of human beings who can do nothing but repeat sin throughout their lifetime. Therefore, the most important thing is to find the shepherd of love and power who guides you into this very power of God.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.(Hebrews 12 : 16~17)
The love of God is not something that can ever be obtained by human will or human determination. It is wisdom received only within the hope of Christ—living with the aim of pursuing the love of Christ, a love that lays down all ideals, all values, and even one’s own life. Those who pray and repent only for worldly blessings, like Esau, and who pray merely for worldly concerns, can never be born again. All the religious people and Christians today who spend their entire lives praying only for worldly matters—family problems, business problems, workplace problems, relationship problems, children’s problems, or health problems—are not true Christians who live according to the holy will of God, following the suffering and sacrifice of Christ.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.(2 Corinthians 7 : 10)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.(1 John 3 : 3)
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness….(Romans 6 : 16~23)
Every form of faith that does not receive the love of God—within which His power works—cannot be freed from sin nor be born again, and therefore continues to repeat sin without end.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.(John 15 : 9~14)
All the sermons of today that merely stir human will and excite human determination—sermons that produce only emotional inspiration—do nothing more than cause believers to rely on themselves, repeating self-awareness, self-exaltation, and human desire. In reality, such teachings cannot kill the evil habits of human beings, who can only repeat sin throughout their lifetime; thus, believers remain trapped in a life where sin is endlessly repeated. But the powerful love of God—followed through the mighty power of God—destroys the evil nature and habits of human beings who cannot help but repeat sin.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.(Romans 5 : 5)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.(Titus 3 : 4~7)
It is by the manifestation of the power of love—revealed to those who live within the hope of Christ—that one comes to salvation. Therefore, the salvation, the Holy Spirit, and the faith claimed by today’s religious people and Christians, in whom the love of God and the mighty power of God do not appear, are 100% false. Most people seek salvation, the Holy Spirit, and love merely through words, theories, knowledge, and human teachings and emotions, while refusing to follow the path of sacrifice, labor, and suffering that pursues the love of God— the path that shapes one into the character befitting a child of God. Find the shepherd who leads you to receive the power and wisdom of God that appear only within the love of God. “Repent, for this is your final opportunity,” is the warning God gives to all people who have not abided in His love.
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.(Colossians 2 : 2~9)
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom 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 : 15~16)
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.(Titus 2 : 11~15)
All Christians who receive the love of God are given every treasure of God’s mysteries, wisdom, and power. Therefore, any shepherd or believer who lacks these fruits, evidences, and signs is—without exception—a liar before God, a heretic, an adversary, and an enemy of God.
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.(1 Timothy 4 : 6)
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.(Colossians 2 : 18~19)
Those who abide in the love of God—within which His mighty power works—are guided by the powerful grace of God that destroys the evil habits of human beings who can only repeat sin, so that they no longer commit sin. For this reason, a child of God does not sin, nor can they sin.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(Romans 6 : 16~18)
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.(1 John 5 : 18~20)
The love of God is the mighty power that leads a person to become perfect, complete, and blameless before Him, forming within them the very character of God. Those who do not possess this love of God—within which His powerful works operate—cannot help but fall continually before repeated sin. The love of God guides us with the power that leads to salvation. But sermons that merely stir human awareness, resolutions, and emotional determination—sermons that do not manifest the power of God—are nothing more than the teachings and leaven of man. This is what all people have been deceived by.
Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:(1 Corinthians 1 : 6~7)
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:(1 Peter 1 : 5~6)
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.(1 Corinthians 1 : 17~18)
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.(2 Corinthians 13 : 4)
Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:(1 Corinthians 1 : 6~7)
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. hen a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.(Proverbs 11 : 5~7)