YHWHLOVE

In the Greek, and generally western mind, "love" is a philosophical idea. In the Hebraic mind, love is more about doing something, as contrasted to feeling something. The Hebrew word is AHAB, seen written as "ahava" sometimes, and has the root meaning of HELPING (living in service). The motivation to help others in spite of their outward actions toward us is very clearly seen in what our Messiah did when they were mocking, spitting, lashing, tearing, slapping, and putting huge dirty nails into His arms and feet.

He prayed for their forgiveness even while doing the work of redeeming the very men who were killing Him. Laying down our life in service to all doesn't always require our death. We can live in service to Yahuah by guarding His instructions, and live in service to our neighbor by being helpful in any way we can.

Showing love toward others will overcome their hatred toward us.

Love is the cure for hatred and bitterness. If someone has wronged us, we feel bitterness naturally. This will lead to hatred, and ultimately death. If we forgive our "enemy", and PRAY for them, we will heal and be able to LOVE them in spite of what they did to us. We are instructed to love our enemies, and be kind and helpful to them. We even pray that Yahuah forgive us AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

The Torah (Commandments, Instructions) teaches us LOVE for Yahuah, and LOVE for other creatures. Love is shown when we can accept others when they are unloving, and hold to beliefs that we don't agree with. (THE INQUISITION FAILED TO LOVE THEIR ENEMIES, BUT PERSECUTED AND MURDERED MILLIONS OVER A 600 YEAR PERIOD). Oi ~ Yahusha prayed for those who were nailing Him to wood, naked - now THAT'S love, for sure. Love is also shown and proved in another way. We show our love for our parents when we obey them. Love can also be the value we place on something in our hearts. If we love Yahuah, then we will obey Him. He wants us to prove our love, and to show Him we love Him; "If you love Me, keep My Commandments." This is the way we know who is born of Yahuah, and who is of the devil 1JN. 3:8 -- SEE ALSO 1JN. 4:7,8. If we love Yahuah with our whole heart, mind, being, and strength, we will obey His Torah. The one who says "I know Him", yet does not obey His Torah, is a liar, and does not know Yahuah 1JN. 2:4.

Yahuah has a great deal to say about love!

The Hebrew word for love is spelled alef, hay, beth, and can be pronounced AHAB, AHEB, or OHAB (#157). It can be a verb, or a noun. As a noun, it is a strong devotion to someone, or the the expression of one's affection. As a verb, it is characterized and shown actively by the selfless giving of oneself or resources without expectation - to be concerned without ambitious designs - to sacrifice oneself and give, if necessary, one's own life to preserve or protect another. To love someone is to live for them, and not for yourself. A higher Hebrew word translated "love" is CHASID. (CLICK ON WORD TO COMPARE)

WE NEED TO SEE ALL BELIEVERS AS A BODY. WHERE WE FAIL THE MOST IS AT LOVING EACH OTHER.

There are many issues among us today causing divisive, unloving disagreements. Some are more serious than others, but the fundamental problem about them all is: the division they cause. One example to consider may be arguing over "head-coverings", or wearing something "special". (I DON'T MEAN THE ITEMS ARE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE ARGUING IS). Getting tough or severe with other observant believers for their zealous obedience to something they feel they need to do can hurt their feelings. Things can be handled in a patient, nice way instead. These squabbles are symptoms of an illness, and are only smokescreens covering the activity of our mutual spiritual enemy. Our love for one another must be the central goal, and our most protected inter-personal manifestation. (GARMENTS DON'T MATTER; LOVE DOES).

We are all "works in progress", so it's understandable that we may not all agree on every detail all the time. Some refer to others as "sacred name" believers, as if this is a bad thing. Those of us who have been given a love for Yahuah's Name may feel unloved when others criticize us. But, those who "fear" Yahuah's Name, and speak to one another, have been given a very special gift, and their names are even in a special scroll written before Yahuah (SEE MALAKI 3:16-18). Both those who use the correct Name, and those who don't, should accept each other in love. Revelation 14:1 states that the Father's Name will be written upon the foreheads of 144,000 special persons, a "sealing" of the servants of Elohim Yahuah (SEE ALSO REV. 7). Concerning these topics, LOVE, and the Name, how relevant is this text:

"Because he cleaves to Me in love, therefore I deliver him; I set him on high,

Because he has known My Name." Ps. 91:14

Some of us know, and some of us don't know certain details -- but love should never be one of our failings. We should speak kindly of those who disagree with us.

Some in Messianic leadership roles have been turned into what I've been trying to not become: Mr. Answer Man. (I say this lovingly about them, of course - but it's true). To understand what's happening to some of them better, you might visit a site describing the "JERUSALEM SYNDROME" (click words). They may be in Jerusalem, or visited it in the past and have this syndrome.

There are those who have to dress themselves according to ancient cultures to help them feel special. We should feel special, because we are now the TEMPLE of the living Elohim, if we are in Mashiach. We cannot put on or take off anything to change that condition. When we act or costume ourselves to please the eyes of others, we are operating in a realm called "hypocrisy". Eye-service is deeply programmed into us by the world, but it is nothing to Yahuah, but hypocrisy. We must not judge people who are overcome with the need to dress in costumes, but love and accept them. They are most likely the ones that will shun us - but we must not behave so. I'm focusing here on the real problem: looking for flaws in each other instead of loving one another. By the measure we judge others, we shall be judged. Judge not, and you shall not be judged.

You already know there is no Torah instruction backing up the ''costuming" traditions being promoted by so many. (WE CANNOT LEGALLY "ADD" OR "TAKE AWAY" FROM THE TORAH - DT. 12:32). If we try to find Yahuah's will, we will find "it is written" . . . but if it's not written, it's in violation, and is as Cain's offering (AN ALTERATION), or a "strange fire" which Yahuah did not ask for. Deceptions are sometimes deliberately practiced openly, but mixed with the Truth. Here are 3 things to look over, and one of them doesn't have anything to do with Truth:

THING #1: MEN ARE TO HAVE BEARDS (IF THEY CAN GROW THEM), AND NOT APPEAR WITH BALD PLACES THEY'VE INTENTIONALLY MADE (ALSO TATTOOS ARE PROHIBITED) -- LEV. 19:27

THING #2: ISRAEL IS TO WEAR TSITSIYOT (4 TASSELS WITH CORD OF BLUE THREAD) TO REMIND THEM OF TORAH -- NUM. 15:38, DEUT. 22:12

THING #3: MEN ARE TO WEAR A KIPA (YARMULKE) ON THEIR HEADS DURING ASSEMBLIES, AND THE MOST PIOUS AMONG US WILL WEAR ONE AT ALL TIMES -- **?** ER, WHOOPS, MUSTA MISPLACED THAT . . . WELL, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP. (BUT YOU WON’T FIND IT).

We should avoid silly controversies, debating over things that are not found in Scripture, since to waste our time on them serves the enemy's goals. Scripture is to be used to correct, rebuke, and train us so we'll know for certain whether we're standing on firm ground, or sand. Yahuah's Words don't wobble around, changing according to men's whims. So, by deduction, we know that we are not to use "Talmud" (THE "ORAL LAW", ADDING TO OR COUNTERMANDING TORAH) to correct, rebuke, and train in righteousness. If you ever see me quoting "Talmud" (TO EXPLAIN HUMANLY ADDED LAWS, RULES, OR SETTING ASIDE TORAH), splash some ice cold water on me and wake me up, please!

We have much bigger fish to catch than to try to clean up the outside of one another's vessels. If love does not reside in us, we do not have life, and we are as whitewashed tombs -- dead men's bones are inside. The Spirit of Yahusha is that life, bearing the fruit of love. Appearances count for nothing at all, and cannot change our standing before Yahuah. If our beard is short, or 10 feet long, we must not feel superior to a brother who cannot grow a beard. But if we are kind and make others feel welcome to come into our presence, we are just a little more like Yahusha. Adam and Chuwah were naked for their first 7 years in Gan Eden, and walked with Yahuah. If Adam walked into some of our assemblies today is his original sinless condition, it would be US who couldn't handle seeing him - OUR sinfulness would cause us to be shocked - seeing him naked. We need spiritual eye-salve to heal our condition, and that can only help when we see one another through the eyes of Yahusha, Who loves us with a boundless love. Love will save your life, not a costume, beard, or a ritual. Yahuah is love.

Love is above all -- and never fails. Love is not an "it" -- it's Him. Fail? Not possible.

bro. Lew

1 Cor 13:3-8:
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

(THE FOLLOWING RECEIVED IN AN EMAIL FROM ERIC HOPKINS, SR)

What is love?

Slow down for two minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes.

What does Love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year olds, "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." - Rebecca, age 8

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy, age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl, age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy, age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri, age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny, age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily, age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you on your birthday if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby, age 7 (Wow!) [let's avoid birthday celebrating however]

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka, age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle, age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy, age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy, age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare, age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine, age
5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris, age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann, age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren, age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an imagination) Karen, age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica, age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

When there is nothing left but Elohim, that is when you find out that Elohim is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this:

Abba, Father bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amein.

The first day after this short article was put up on the web, several Emails were fired at me. This is one of the kind ones:

"I find that for a man taking on the way of dress of the Jews is biblical, especially the Tzitsits and the beards".
Lew's reply: I completely agree! However the point of this short article is that we who have been given so much (Torah, which teaches us love for Yahuah and our neighbor) have to accept those who disagree with our views also; we cannot "graduate" to become "like our Father in Shamayim" until we can love the unlovely, and even love our enemies. That's where many of us are failing today, and we can see it played out in many of the Messianic leaders every day. This is why I pray for the elders each day, and perhaps they will be able to see better if they can remove a few of the planks in their own eyes, to better help remove splinters in anyone else's.

with only love intended,

bro. Lew

1 John/Yohanan 4:7:
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of Elohim; and everyone who loves is born of Elohim and knows Elohim." How can there be so many people that don't see what's happening in the news?

HISTORY WILL REMEMBER WHO ARE THE COWARDS -

UNMANLY, WEAK VILLAINS, WRETCHES, DEVILS, KNAVES, REPROBATES

Genesis 16:12 - Ishmael truly is a "wild donkey" whose hand is against all men

I DARE YOU RamaHanaQuanzMas