A Friend That Sticks Closer Than A Brother

[turtletwo]

So many people have gotten electronic requests to "friend" strangers that the word is changing its meaning. Jesus Christ gave it its deepest meaning when He greeted His betrayer Judas as "Friend." His love reaches out to even us, His enemies. "God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Unlike our other friends, He knows everything about us. "Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Luke 12:7) Unlike others who may unfriend us or die, He says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Jesus isn't a mere historical figure, but God who became a man, died and lives forever. "He ever lives to make intercession for us." (Hebrews 7:25) Rejecting His love, like Judas did, means an eternity of suffering for our own sin. Receiving Him means spending eternity with the best friend possible.

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:13) 

 

 

 

[JohnD]

Agapeo

Phileo

Storge

Eros

All definitions in the Greek for our one word "love."

Eros is (IMHO) not love at all... if you define love as varying degrees of selflessness and affection for the object of your love.

Eros is a counterfeit love that fools us into believing we feel for others at the other three levels what we really only feel for ourselves.

"*I* think *I* would make the best spouse for that person..."  and the moment that person steps out of line / what *you* decide is best,

you crucify them.

Storge (friendship love) is less about self and more about the friend.

Phileo (brotherly, familial, national love) a bit more about the relative / countryman with ethnic pride sprinkled in. 

Agapeo (Agape) love... often called perfect love, God's love,

I would say is true love. Completely selfless. Unconditional.

But in Christ's statement we see it is also the antithesis of Eros in that Agape can also be applied to the other two (Phileo and Storge).

God IS love.

 

[R. Hartono]

Amen.

[Kristin]

Eros is the political battle cry “love not hate”. But you are correct, it’s not really LOVE. 

Edited April 22, 2019 by Kristin

[missmuffet]

Sacrificial, unconditional,agape love is never about yourself. It is always putting the other person first.

[turtletwo]

@JohnD Thank you for your contributions. The information that you posted sparked an interest in me to learn more about the various types of love in the Greek. For starters, I found this.

 

[frienduff thaylorde]

4 hours ago, turtletwo said:

@JohnD Thank you for your contributions. The information that you posted sparked an interest in me to learn more about the various types of love in the Greek. For starters, I found this.

 

Yep and swidl is dearly loved .       You are dear sister .      And now let all praise the Lord .   

[Not me]

On 4/21/2019 at 6:17 AM, turtletwo said:

So many people have gotten electronic requests to "friend" strangers that the word is changing its meaning. Jesus Christ gave it its deepest meaning when He greeted His betrayer Judas as "Friend." His love reaches out to even us, His enemies. "God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Unlike our other friends, He knows everything about us. "Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Luke 12:7) Unlike others who may unfriend us or die, He says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Jesus isn't a mere historical figure, but God who became a man, died and lives forever. "He ever lives to make intercession for us." (Hebrews 7:25) Rejecting His love, like Judas did, means an eternity of suffering for our own sin. Receiving Him means spending eternity with the best friend possible.

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:13) 

 

The words that are used for the title of this post. 

“A friend that sticks closer than a brother”

To me has such a ring of love in them. To know this friend who sticks closer than a brother, brings a peace and joy to the heart and a smile to the face. Than to realize it is the Creator of all that is this friend. Than to read; 

“I no longer call you servants but friends” 

is again a heart boggling thought, that this  Creator God who created us, calls us His friends and wants us to be His. 

Blessings for such great and awesome words. 

Much love in Christ, Not me 

[turtletwo]

On 4/23/2019 at 3:58 AM, Not me said:

Blessings for such great and awesome words. 

@Not me  Blessings to you, too. Thanks for your kind and encouraging post.

[Not me]

2 hours ago, turtletwo said:

@Not me  Blessings to you, too. Thanks for your kind and encouraging post.

Your post so blessed me it brought to mind the awesomeness of having the God of all creation call us His friends. Can there be any higher honor, than being called a friend by God? 

Oh, to have and get our “well done’s”,,, brings tears to the eyes in the  hope. 

Blessings, 

Much love in Christ, Not me