In his Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis de Sales referred to the term, philothea, which means “one who loves God.” He writes:
“Genuine, living devotion, Philothea, presupposes love of God, and hence it is simply true love of God. Yet it is not always love as such. Inasmuch as divine love adorns the soul, it is called grace which makes us pleasing to his Divine Majesty. Inasmuch as it strengthens us to do good, it is called charity. When it has reached a degree of perfection at which it makes us not only do good, but also do this carefully, frequently, and promptly, it is called devotion.”
Francis de Sales Introduction to the Devout Life
This love of God takes us all the way back to the first of the Ten Commandments, given by God to Moses and the Israelites, who after spending four hundred years enslaved in Egypt, now prepare to move into the Promised Land.
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3 NIV
The devotion about which de Sales speaks comes from setting YHWH, the Lord God Almighty, above all others. When we love a person, we put them before others. Our relationship with them takes precedence over all other relationships. That love relationship then affects everything we do in life.
This is the way it should be with our God. The good we do stems from our love for God and thus a desire to please him. The way we speak and live stems from our love for God which leads us to want to be more like him, spurring on the sanctification and development of Christ-likeness. It all starts with love for God and setting him as the highest priority in our lives.
When asked about the most important commandment, Jesus said it this way:
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31
As we love the Lord, we are led to love our neighbor, and in so doing, we fulfill the commandments given by God. As I have highlighted so many great authors and Christians through this Wednesday Wisdom blog, I could think of no better word to wear as a badge of honor as a Christian. May whatever you read and highlight reflect to others that you are a philothea.
Let others see Christ in the highlights of your life—to God be the glory.
Grace and Peace