Whatever deeds of love I may expect and desire to see, words of love nevertheless have a special place and a special influence.
For example, let us try to imagine the God of the Bible without words of love. Let us remove from Scripture every statement about God’s agape and read it, trying to understand what God is like. I think the first thing that will come to mind is justice, and sometimes mercy. We will also see the Lord’s greatness and His inaccessibility. The only thing expected of me will be deeds by which I can justify myself or which will condemn me. The problem of sin will be resolved by appeasing the Most High through pilgrimages, sacrifices, alms, offerings, virtues, good behaviour, and memorized prayers. As a result, I will obtain one of the religions in which I decide for myself how to please the Creator. His deeds of love toward me and the world will remain veiled in mystery, because I do not know His true motives. I am afraid to think about God—perhaps even that is forbidden. And if I ascribe love to Him, this will bring the Most High down to the level of human beings and endow Him with the sentimentality of human nature.
It is difficult even to imagine the result of such an example, with love absent from God’s character. Unfortunately, we can see that this is exactly how those who do not read the Bible imagine Him: a stern, cruel, bloodthirsty, beautiful, and intelligent God.
And some openly serve Satan, regarding him as the ruler of this world and the supreme governor of the human conscience.
In essence, Satan very much desires to hide from people the truth that God is Love. If he succeeds, people have no choice but to invent a god and ways of salvation for themselves, which in reality lead to worship of the prince of this world.
It is love that presents the true God to people in the true light. It is the union of mercy and justice that creates a correct image of our Creator. And Calvary reveals to me the attitude this love has toward sin and the sinner.
From the pages of Holy Scripture, God Himself tells me of His love for me. He desires me to understand it correctly. And blessed am I if I suddenly realize that God loves me, that He loves me in particular, and that He addresses these words of love specifically to me.
I will tell you honestly, friends: if I were given the opportunity to ask God something personally, and I knew that I would immediately receive an answer directly from His lips, I would ask whether He loves me. I know this and believe it, but it is so important for me to hear these words personally from Him. Even in Eternity, I plan to learn this when I can be near Him face to face. It is very important to me how God’s love acts specifically toward me.
At present I comprehend everything by faith, having many confirmations of His love. I do not even doubt that God loves me. And I will not believe those who try to distort this understanding of Him. But I very much want to hear about it. Sometimes my friends tell me that Jesus loves me. At that moment, I want to know whether you love me. Can you tell me so yourself?
I am simply expressing these thoughts aloud, knowing that I am not the only one who thinks this way and has such expectations. Every person needs words of love—words in particular—because we were created as intelligent beings capable of understanding human speech, which conveys information about relationships.
At the same time, one wants these words to come from the heart, revealing the person’s inner intentions toward me, rather than being merely a collection of fleeting phrases taken from thin air. The heart always hears what is being spoken about. And deeds follow afterward.
Strange as it may seem, there is now an enormous shortage of sincere, heartfelt words of love in the world. The world thirsts to hear them in families, at work, in every community, and even in the church. As a result, everything is reduced to deeds, which everyone interprets in his own way. People have even coined the expression, ‘They are only words . . .’ And not without reason. For the carnal heart does not know how to love, and every attempt to express human love is doomed to earthbound relationships, which the thirsty heart does not accept.
This is why Jesus Himself offers us His very own Agape in these days, so that we may become living witnesses of His love to this world—so that where love is not expected and where it is impossible, it may kindle a light and plant its banner. No matter how repulsive a person who loves me may be to me, his genuine love exerts its influence upon me. Somewhere subconsciously, I understand that this person is genuine and that a relationship can be built with him; but he does not love sin, he is very boring, and there is nothing to talk about with him. If these words were spoken by some famous actor or well-known person, I think it would be more pleasant to me.
God has given me friends who sometimes, and at times very often, tell me of their love for me—simply and from a pure heart. This always brings such indescribable joy. And these are people who believe in God. I reflect on this and understand that in this very way the Lord Himself is telling me of His love and answering my question. In Eternity Jesus will tell me this openly, but now He desires to become the Witness of my hope, so that without seeing I may believe, and without hearing I may understand.
Through my friends, the Lord assures me of His love, establishes me in it, binds us with the strongest bonds, and keeps me from evil. The commandment that we love one another was not given by Jesus without purpose, but with meaning and expectation. He called it a commandment three times and did so before His death. It entered into the Covenant of His Blood, becoming an integral part of the law of life and the plan of salvation. Obedience to this commandment is not only necessary, but also mutually pleasant. It carries happiness, joy, and peace to the heart.
But everything begins with words. Until I have explained my actions aloud, everyone will interpret them in his own way. But words of love form in a person a correct perception of my true attitude toward him.
It is not difficult for us to speak these words to our little children, especially when they are obedient. But when they grow up, for some reason we stop reminding them of this. Yet the need for love is implanted within them and remains, while the words are gone; and the children go into the world in search of love, finding anything at all except love.
Try this: choose someone close to you with whom you enjoy friendly fellowship, decide to love him throughout your life, and tell him of your love. Then watch what begins to happen in his heart. It will begin to come alive; his speech will change; he will begin watching you with special attention, start testing you, and be drawn toward you. In short, expect interesting problems.
Words of love have the power to create something new, to make a masterpiece out of nothing. They are spiritual and touch the invisible sphere of life, but they also touch the human mind and shape its consciousness. Every word of love is like a driven nail. It enters the human mind very firmly, penetrates the deepest parts of the soul, and remains there forever, leaving an indelible mark. But we are surrounded by people into whose heads this simple truth has never yet been ‘driven,’ and the place remains empty. They try to fill it with all kinds of rubbish and counterfeits, but these are not genuine.
People want to hear words of love, and these words must be given to them. This is an enormous shortage that must be made up.
Love knows how to do this and does it with joy. We should not be afraid to speak of love.
Homework 123
What new things did you learn for yourself from this lesson? What place do words of love have in your life? How did you imagine God before, and how do you imagine Him now? How did you learn that God loves you? Can you openly declare your love not only to those close to you, but also to those who are more distant? What restrains you? Do you often hear declarations of love, and from whom, if it is not a secret? Please read 1 John 4:10; Romans 5:8; Hosea 11:9; Lamentations 3:22–23; Hebrews 10:24; Proverbs 27:17; Jeremiah 31:3; and Romans 12:10 in the light of our lesson.