Been thinking about LOVE :)

The word ‘love’ has been on my heart lately! A lot!

I am being reminded of WHAT IS IT?!!

We use it all the time! I ‘love’ this day, I ‘love’ this food! Even, I ‘love’ you!

The bible talks about 3 Human Loves -

1.      Storge  love: our natural, emotional love

-          Can become a suffocating love, if not returned

2.      Eros love: our natural, sexual, “falling in love” love

-          Can lose our rationality if not careful

3.      Phili0 love: our natural, friendship love. A sharing of common interest. Seeing eye to eye.

And then there is Agape, God’s love!

It’s different from human love.  It’s supernatural and comes directly from God.. We cannot produce this ‘love’ as it requires a new spirit.

Having and passing on Agape is what makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world.

So this is what it looks like!

Definition of God’s Love

Agape is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. [It] does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.  It is never glad about injustices, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.  If you love someone you will be faithful to him no matter what the cost.  You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.  Agape never fails.  (1Corinthians 13)

Agape love is not dependent upon our understanding, our feelings or our desires or upon how the other person responds  and it’s not dependent upon the circumstances we are in!

In other words it’s unconditional, it is one-sided, it is a ‘freeing’ love and is centred on reaching the other person!

Agape involves a simple choice – to co-operate with the Divine lover of our soul.  It is not based on human emotion but on God alone.  It is God Himself loving through us as we learn to say  "I choose to set myself aside and allow God to love through me".

Our ‘self’ (ie. our emotions and desires) are by nature opposed to such a love  because there is nothing in it for us. Our self is somehow more comfortable with holding on to the fears, hurts and all the “justified” offences that quench the flow of God’s love in and through our hearts

By God’s grace however, we can choose to yield these things to Him so that we can be His vessel and ambassador.

Are you willing to Love like this?

Can we tear up that long list of “justified hurts” and choose to forgive?

John 12v24 tells us...”Verily, verily I say onto you, Except a grain of wheat fall  into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it dies it’s going to bring forth much fruit (Gods Love).”

So why is Agape so Important?

It is the whole meaning and purpose of or lives (1 Timothy 1v5)

It's the only way others will know we are Christians ( John 13v35)

It proves we are abiding in God ( John 15v4)

It shows we are filled with fullness of God (Ephesians 3v19)

It is proof that we love (agapao) God (John 14v21)

It is the perfect bond of union, not only between God and us, but between others and us. 

AGAPE is impossible to manufacture and even to copy because its source is God alone.  But we who are filled with His agape love are able to be agents of this supernatural love wherever we go, for with GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

LORD, help me to daily put my ‘self’ aside and make these faith choices to honour You.. Help me to understand that I cannot do this in my own strength but only as I trust, abide and yield to You..

I pray in the Name of Yeshua!

Amen! J

With much  'agape' :)