"That Love Which Is Of God"

Love (agape) will have a reflection. It will be visible: folks will see it. Love's reflection will be Jehovah, for that is love's light and the saint has no other light than that light of God's nature. He is darkness without that light and continues to live in the "darkness of this world." The only light reflection there is, is the Lord within. When taken in perspective to the saints relating among each other, what will that reflection be? What form is visible?

We should ask if it is true that love (agape) gives itself away? Is it not also true that love (agape) esteems others better than themselves and lowers themselves below others? Is it not also true that love (agape) thinketh no evil and beareth (roof over, i.e., covers) all things? My friend, real (agape) love coves the transgression over of whom it loves. Provrbs 17:9: "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." Here we are told that when love (agape) seeks to be loved it covers transgressons. We are told in Psalm 41:6, "His heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it." Love (agape) seemeth to be a quiet lover.

It amazes me when watching supposed brethren (at least those who say they hold to the same points of doctrine as this author) who claim to be "filled with the Spirit" and claim to be saved and indwelt with the Divine nature (agape/love) in their hearts and yet, they seem to enjoy uncovering suspected transgressions of others. Does God want me to love (agape) Him? Yes, He does. And God forgives (covers) and forgets (tells none) and presents me to others justified (as if I had not ever sinned).

Am I to grow to His likeness? Is HIS nature to rule over my life and actions? If the answer to these is yes, then should not His people cover far more transgression than is done? It seems as if most saints enjoy digging up trans-gressions of others and being the first to reveal the "scoop" to the world publicly; then it is as if it's some kind of honor badge among some to expose a transgresson louder than another and others bestow their honors upon the "dirt thrower?" Reconciling one to God, not exposing dirty laundry, is God's will. II Corinthians 5:18 tells us, "Converting a sinner from the error of his way" is what shall "save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:20), not "hatred stirring up strifes" (Proverbs 10:12). "Love covereth all sins" (Proverbs 10:12) and a faithful spirit concealeth the matter; better love reigned than the contention of carnality.

Yes, "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine" is in the Bible along with "vengeance be-longeth to me, I will recompence saith the Lord."

Is it not true that David was commended ro his attitude toward Saul and all his enemies? Is it not said of him, He was a man after God's own heart?" Apparently God was pleased by David's position and David's leaving judgment and justice to God alone. Note his attitude in I Samuel 26:9-11: "And David said to Abishai, destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go."

Beloved, today we have so much "campism" among us that it has fostered some very uscriptural "denominational" attitudes among brethren. This idea of limiting God's truth to a few points may be ideal for some situatons, but not for over all convictions. Distilling God's words down to a few points serves a purpose but who chooses what is to remain of all truth except the few points esential to faith, practice, and tests of fellowship is left to camp leaders - not the Holy Spirit and Scriptures all too often.

Love (agape) loves all truth and holds all truth essential to its own character. Love reflects a love toward and for all truth, leaving nothing out. On the other hand love (agape) does not select certain essential truths, tough truths are dif-ferent in application and essence, and create a camp of them.

It does, in fact, seem that those who are "campized" sooner or later submit to a commonly accepted human leader or spokesman and what he holds as the essential pints of God's truth becomes thier essential points of faith also. It also seems that to continue within a camp, "how" this leader or spokesman holds his essential pints of truth must become the "how" of the camp members alike.

Agape-love is not faction-oriented. Creating camps is not love's method. Love (agape) is reflective. Love reflects God's nature and character giving itself to the unlovely sacrificially.

Love seeks to cover tansgressions. Love's greatest "cover up" was at Calvary and its greatest shout is "and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12). Certainly no man is God, but a maturing, growing divine nature will bring one a greater capability to forgive and forget. This, beloved, is love's reflection.