Every now and then I come across a word that I really, really like.
I like certain words for certain specific reasons.
These words then become my special words. Words I treasure.
They end up in my reserved place for special words …
However, for that particular word to become one of my special words, it must comply. It must have certain unique qualities.
- It must be true in every sense, spoken from the heart.
- It must have integrity and virtue.
- It must have specific context.
- It must have a personal application.
- It must be intense.
- It must have a deep emotional meaning and affection.
- It must have a special origin, uttered by someone who really meant it.
- It must somehow be exclusive, unusual, extraordinary, not common, marked with significance and be breath-taking.
- It must sing a song that resonates with the heart, soul and spirit!
(That’s the short version of my list of criteria)
How do you find such a word?
Well, with some delicate observation, an open mind and willingness to receive. It helps to have a heightened awareness of those who pursue you, those who express themselves to you. You keep on looking and listening. It helps to see the proof of this affection.
That word will come to you.
From where?
The origin will be from a deep place of truthfulness and sincereness beyond any measure.
It will come from someone genuinely in love. It will be whispered, spoken or written in the form of a love letter or poem.
It will have a fragrance so intense and sweet that your mind will immediately be lulled into a state of serenity.
Who will utter this word?
This person will be truly in love. This person will not be able to contain this word.
It will be a very special person, madly and deeply in love.
The word will overflow and gush out towards you, again and again.
How will you know if the word is worthy of the place reserved for special words?
When you hear it or when you read it, it will stir you with intense affection arrowed straight into the heart. Your soul and spirit will be swamped with deep emotions, all-consuming love, loving-care and paramount honesty that comes with it.
It will captivate you.
So, did I find the word and what is the word?
Yes.
Charitoō.
The word that arrested me was charitoō.
Such is the meaning, intensity and intimacy of charitoō, that it was destined to be included in my reserved place for special words!
Before we get to the word, let me declare its pre-eminence
Romans 5:5 says ... the love of God is shed abroad (ekcheō) in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
According to Strong's concordance the Greek word, ekcheō means to pour forth; to bestow; to gush (pour) out, run greedily (out), shed (abroad, forth), spill.
I think we can agree that this is not a normal pouring-out or accidental spill.
It is an abundant, full-blown gush of the Holy Spirit ... greedily and eagerly pouring into the cup - the cup running over! And it is God's desire to completely fill you with His love so that you will keep running over and running over and running over …
Now to charitoō
Charitoō is a very special Greek word that appears in this specific form, only twice in the entire Bible. Only twice.
Once: The first time we encounter it is when the angel Gabriel appears to a certain Mary, a virgin espoused to a man from the house of David (beloved) ... He calls her highly favoured (charitoō that is to be made accepted). [Luke 1:28]
Mary is the worthy, undisputed person to be called charitoō.
Mary is immediately awestruck by the angel's salutation because it is a very unusual salutation.
Highly favoured!
The Angel explains in Luke 1:30: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour [charis -Grace] with God. She is made accepted (favoured beyond measure) by God Himself.
Charis (Grace, God's unmerited favour, Jesus) is the Greek root word for charitoō (highly favoured by God).
It makes sense.
It is understandable as the angel goes on to explain how she would conceive and bring forth a Son, Jesus.
Indeed, Mary is made Highly Favoured!
No one could ever argue that.
Mary had to be Highly Favoured!
Yes, and the other?
There remains only one other instance where God calls someone highly favoured (charitoō to be made acceptable) ... and we need to take special cognizance of this instance and whom it is meant for ...
Secondly: In the letter to the Ephesians Abba, through Paul, reveals His beautiful work explaining how He has chosen us, predestined us, adopting us (made us acceptable) according to His good pleasure (charis: unmerited favour - Grace) by Jesus Christ to Himself ...
And then the mind-blowing part - Ephesians 1:6 uses a specific word found only in one other instance in the Bible aimed towards the object of His affection saying: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Note the word accepted. It is the Greek word charitoō in exactly the same form as was used for Mary, the favoured virgin woman who would give a physical birth to God Himself.
Only …
The charitoō here in Ephesians is used for you and me!
HalleluYAH!
It means that you and I are seen by Abba in exactly the same capacity and amplitude as the virgin Mary!
It means that we have been made accepted to God by the Beloved, King of Grace, Jesus Himself!
Why?
Because He loves you with a deep fatherly love so intense that He cannot leave you the way that you are.
So that the shedding abroad, abundantly and in overflowing fashion of His love, His Grace, His joy, His Peace, His very Holy Spirit can be done into your heart to transform you from a living soul into a living Spirit!
So that His very Spirit can have a home to abide, forever!
How?
Luke answers in Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
... so that we may answer in all earnest like Mary in Luke 1:38 ... be it unto me according to thy word!
Let us remind ourselves: We have been made ready and accepted, highly favoured to receive this abundant out-pour.
Because we are highly favoured by God!
Does the word qualify?
Charitoō is not only worthy to be taken up in my reserved place for special words, it takes second place only behind one other word on my list.
That other word?
The Word Himself - Yah’shua!
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