What is Godly Super-Natural Love?

[Randy]

I would agree God's very nature is love.
Jesus would be our mark of perfection. To love as He loved.
or as Paul wrote, "faith expressing itself through love"

Paul wrote this for us in regard to love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The two greatest commandments express love

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

Your "absolutely correct" Randy.
What you'll find as you grow in God's word, (I'm 77), is that there is a "SUPER-NATURAL GODLY LOVE" that goes beyond anything we could ever imagine on our own.

Learning that is a part of the maturing process that takes us beyond the "MILK" of Gods word, and the immature MILK of our faith we live in, to the "MEAT", that takes us to new depths of Gods wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment, to live out a faith that deepens, more and more, as time goes by, until our end.

God bless you my friend, and thank you for your comment.
My name is OLIGOS

 

[Susannah]

There's three stages to Supernatural Love. After the euphoria has died down we begin to suffer so that we know what Christ went through on the cross. Then we lose all desire for worldly possessions and we give everything away and live a simple life. Finally, we are given our mission which we serve with obedience and Grace. I read this in the book "Come Be My Light" by Mother Teresa. This is exactly how my walk with Christ has evolved.

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

There's three stages to Supernatural Love. After the euphoria has died down we begin to suffer so that we know what Christ went through on the cross. Then we lose all desire for worldly possessions and we give everything away and live a simple life. Finally, we are given our mission which we serve with obedience and Grace. I read this in the book "Come Be My Light" by Mother Teresa. This is exactly how my walk with Christ has evolved.

Hi Susannah
For me it's a lot different, but I think it depends on where you are on your road to maturity, and what God calls you to in your understanding of what is possible for us, and what is only possible for God.

For me, I have found that SUPER NATURAL GODLY LOVE only belongs to God, and can only be achieved by His followers by asking for that Love of His, that only He can choose to bless us with.

God bless you and nice to hear from you.
My name is OLIGOS

 

[TibiasDad]

So let's expand on that and go to 1st Corinthians 13: 1-7 as an example of the term "SUPER-NATURAL LOVE".

And you say, well who doesn't know all this stuff already?
Well, at least for me and my "pea-sized brain", this is where it got complicated.
We are to become SUPER - NATURAL also,like God and Christ, over time, because we are told to change and mature, and become like God and Christ, and yet, we don't have a clue how to LOVE like He does!

Back to 1st Corinthians 13: 1-7...even more complicated for me at least, at the beginning of my faith as I read those verses, and I remember thinking, well, I'm done for. Who can do any of that or be like that in a lifetime??
And I was right...in the NATURAL !!

Hi Oligos,

There has been much good said in both your OP, and in the responses thus far, and I will try to avoid any unnecessary redundancies in my remarks.

This said, I think both Link1983 and JLB have said some very good things in mentioning 1John, and the admonition to be willing to lose in order to gain that which is greater.

I am a lifelong Wesleyan in my upbringing and training, and your OP is precisely where Wesleyan thought finds it foundation stone! For me, it starts and finishes with the singular command to love the Lord with all we are and have and our neighbor as ourselves. Like in the garden of old, we are given a singular command to obey, and that command is not grievous, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

JLB made another insightful comment when he redefined "supernatural" as "spiritual". In Galatians 6:1, Paul uses the term οἱ πνευματικοὶ, the spiritual ones, to define those who are responsible for working with those who have fallen into sin. Jesus's words, "as I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34) are saying basically the same thing, and that is that love is the means and the method of all Christian activity. Love is the lens of the Father's eye, love is the motivation for all he does, love is expression of his actions and love is the result of every breath he breathes!

Aligning with your reference of 1 Cor 13:1-7, I find these specific descriptions the epitome of "perfect love", especially verse 5 where he states that " love is not self-seeking ". This, for me, is the starting block of running the Christian race as Christ did. Perfect love is to always seek the benefit of the object of love over our own interests regardless of the cost. It is a " nevertheless, not my will but yours" type of act. This is the perfection that we are called to in Matt 5:43-48, ending with "be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect"!

Your are correct that loving as God loves, is not anything we can do
"naturally", but when Christ live in us, we being to see with his eyes, and evaluate life with his mind, and react with his instincts. We must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him (Matt 16:24), being willing to "face death daily" (1 Cor 15:31) to see others benefit from the gospel, if even at the loss of ourselves. (Rom 9:3)

As we submit ourselves to his will, seek his perspective, allow his mind to be think through things, love becomes the new natural for the new man in Christ, where the old natural has passed away, and the new natural has come! (2 Cor 5:17) And again, this command is not grievous, nor is the yoke of it heavy or its burden overbearing. Things that are natural rarely are!

Doug

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

Hi Oligos,

There has been much good said in both your OP, and in the responses thus far, and I will try to avoid any unnecessary redundancies in my remarks.

This said, I think both Link1983 and JLB have said some very good things in mentioning 1John, and the admonition to be willing to lose in order to gain that which is greater.

I am a lifelong Wesleyan in my upbringing and training, and your OP is precisely where Wesleyan thought finds it foundation stone! For me, it starts and finishes with the singular command to love the Lord with all we are and have and our neighbor as ourselves. Like in the garden of old, we are given a singular command to obey, and that command is not grievous, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

JLB made another insightful comment when he redefined "supernatural" as "spiritual". In Galatians 6:1, Paul uses the term οἱ πνευματικοὶ, the spiritual ones, to define those who are responsible for working with those who have fallen into sin. Jesus's words, "as I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34) are saying basically the same thing, and that is that love is the means and the method of all Christian activity. Love is the lens of the Father's eye, love is the motivation for all he does, love is expression of his actions and love is the result of every breath he breathes!

Aligning with your reference of 1 Cor 13:1-7, I find these specific descriptions the epitome of "perfect love", especially verse 5 where he states that " love is not self-seeking ". This, for me, is the starting block of running the Christian race as Christ did. Perfect love is to always seek the benefit of the object of love over our own interests regardless of the cost. It is a " nevertheless, not my will but yours" type of act. This is the perfection that we are called to in Matt 5:43-48, ending with "be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect"!

Your are correct that loving as God loves, is not anything we can do
"naturally", but when Christ live in us, we being to see with his eyes, and evaluate life with his mind, and react with his instincts. We must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him (Matt 16:24), being willing to "face death daily" (1 Cor 15:31) to see others benefit from the gospel, if even at the loss of ourselves. (Rom 9:3)

As we submit ourselves to his will, seek his perspective, allow his mind to be think through things, love becomes the new natural for the new man in Christ, where the old natural has passed away, and the new natural has come! (2 Cor 5:17) And again, this command is not grievous, nor is the yoke of it heavy or its burden overbearing. Things that are natural rarely are!

Doug

For me, one of the most beautiful insightful and accurate responses I have read here or anywhere.
Not because you agreed with anything I said, but because you understand the applications of faith in these contexts.

Thank you and God bless you. There are so few who understand what you, JLB, and Link1983 do.
My name is OLIGOS

 

[Hospes]

The Awaited Suitor

I face the horizon and take God's hand.
In great expectation I look over the land.
Nothing happens oh woe is me.
When will I see you? When will it be?
With tears in my eyes, I look up and smile.
God cups my face and after while.
He softly speaks and breaks the news.
I am the one that was chosen for you.
Can you love me year after year as you would have loved him if he had appeared?
My face grew pale and my body shook.
I took his hand too frightened to look.
Then I agreed to give it a try.
My Suitor was here. He has finally arrived.

Susannah, some of what you write drives me nuts, but that poem is beautiful! Thought I should let you know.

 

[Susannah]

I am actually looking for ways to fit in. I am a student or "work in progress." Can you be more specific about how I annoy you.

I started out as an agnostic. Then I found God. Then I found the Holy Spirit. Then I found Christ. At first I was a liberal Christian. Now I am growing more conservative. But I do not believe we should mix Christianity with politics. That pretty much sums me up except to say that as the poem suggests, I am having a love affair with my savior Jesus Christ. I have searched all my life for love and then found it in an unexpected source. From within and from Jesus Christ.

 

[Susannah]

The Marriage

We joined together,
Early in the dawn.
Our love grew
Deep and strong.

We worked as one;
We shared the day.
I was content;
I did not stray.

In my heart,
I knew for sure,
My love for God
Was strong and pure.

And this, of course,
Was meant to be.
This truly was
My destiny.

1985

Gratitude
To My Beloved Christ

You gave me life, and nurtured my soul.
You loved me, till I was whole.

You cried for me, when I was in pain.
Your tears soothed my sorrow, like life-giving rain.

I treated you badly – my anger unfurled.
You always forgave me, despite all I hurled.

Now I've found peace; my spirit is free.
From the depth of my soul, I want to thank thee.

For I know what a burden I had to have been.
Yet somehow you loved me despite all my sins.

1983

My name is Susannah . . .

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

I am having a love affair with my savior Jesus Christ. I have searched all my life for love and then found it in an unexpected source. From within and from Jesus Christ.

.

Me too Susannah.
Christ is all I need. Been single 25 years and I've LOVED EVERY DAY, EVERY MINUTE OF IT .

My name is OLIGOS

 

[Susannah]

Me too Susannah.
Christ is all I need. Been single 25 years and I've LOVED EVERY DAY, EVERY MINUTE OF IT .

My name is OLIGOS

When my husband died a year ago on August 23, I took a vow of chastity and poverty. After years of starving for human love, I have several men in love with me, but it is too late. I have my awaited suitor in Jesus. If I were younger I would join a nunnery, although I am little too willful to go that far. LOL

My name is Susanna

 

[Hospes]

I am actually looking for ways to fit in. I am a student or "work in progress." Can you be more specific about how I annoy you.

I started out as an agnostic. Then I found God. Then I found the Holy Spirit. Then I found Christ. At first I was a liberal Christian. Now I am growing more conservative. But I do not believe we should mix Christianity with politics. That pretty much sums me up except to say that as the poem suggests, I am having a love affair with my savior Jesus Christ. I have searched all my life for love and then found it in an unexpected source. From within and from Jesus Christ.

I apologize if I stirred up any concern in you; just wanted to be an encouragement. I do not remember ever being annoyed with you, just concerned about the correctness of some of your thinking. But, Suzannah, by grace I have learned to know I am not God's gift to humanity in correcting every comment I think may be off. (Earlier in my life I sometimes acted like I was!) Again, my comment on you writing at times something that drives me "nuts" was meant as a friendly tease, not a statement of my annoyance. It was meant as a set up for telling you I really appreciated the beauty of the poem. Hope you understand and thanks for sharing the poem.

 

[Susannah]

Thanks! I have a lot to learn.

 

[humble soul]

I have several men in love with me

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

Be nice humble soul .

 

[humble soul]

Be nice humble soul .

I am. I am genuinely curious.

 

[Susannah]

I'm sure you do.

 

[humble soul]

And good on you. Because at 62, I don't have any women lining up to date me.

 

[Susannah]

I was talking about platonic love which is a deep attachment for another human being

 

[humble soul]

You need to explain in more detail to avoid confusion then.