Devotional
Agape Love
Agape Love is the only true and pure love. It is the love of God; the Holy Trinity – the Heavenly Father, the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit…for “God is Love.” (John 4:8). Agape love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. This perfectly describes the God’s love for us by giving us life through Lord Jesus Christ and the Grace of the Holy Spirit.
Our Heavenly Father has shown love for us when he created us before we were born. He nurtured, taught, and directed us; he provided all the delights of the new world. But because of free will, came the downfall of man. Because of God’s extreme love for the children he created, we were not destroyed. Throughout the history of the bible, men were constantly redeemed and delivered, and would return to old habits. Many prophets foretold repeatedly for man to change his ways and love God and his fellow man, yet men failed.
But because of God’s mercy and unconditional and everlasting love for his children, he sent his one and only son, our redeemer, Lord Jesus Christ, to die for our sins once and for all. This sin debt was paid for the past, present and for the years to come. The Gift (Holy Spirit) was sent as our keeper, to aid us in our journey; to guide and convict our hearts, and to help us to remember to live in the ways of the Lord.
John 3:16, KJV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
What a tremendous sacrifice? What love? What mercy? So how does man take these attributes and embed them into our lives? You must understand that this is not just opening the car door, helping someone cross the street, donate a dollar here or there in front of the supermarket, or going to church once a week. How much are we willing to give of ourselves to God and others? Jesus has instructed us to:
Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Agape Love is Selfless
Meaning, to think of others – putting others first before your needs. This is a love of devotion, of caring, of compassion and of service for the sole purpose of giving of oneself. Love is not egotistical or prideful; doing for others to show how good you are. Selfless love is beyond self; to be generous, noble, and unselfish. A mother’s love for her child, putting the child’s needs before her own. To honor someone in their glory without jealousy or envy. To love someone who is not “your” equal;” not to be self-righteous or judgmental but give a helping hand to the less fortunate.
“1st Corinthians 12:4-8 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Agape Love is Sacrificial
The ultimate love…Yes, we hold in our hearts the most endearing act of all, the Lamb of God, our precious Lord Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life to save ours – from the beginning to the end for all who know and love him and his Father. In history, men and women have sacrificed their lives as soldier’s giving up their lives to save someone or many. Through many civil rights movements, surrendering oneself, group, or government for the sake of liberty and justice for all.
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Agape Love is Unconditional
No matter what? How many are willing to give “unconditional love” when realistically there are conditions placed to meet our approval? Or, what about a person who has violated trust or hurt you? These are tough questions to answer when we truly look deeper into exactly what unconditional love is. What would you do if Jesus were to ask you to give up your riches and follow him? The Lord knows our hearts, he knows our will, but he also knows what man is capable of.
Matthew 5:43-46, RSV “In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?”
Brotherhood/Sisterhood
As reflected, agape love is a sacrificing love of God for humanity, we are committed to love as instructed towards God and among one another. As it is said that agape, in its purest form, is divine; we as brothers and sisters continue our journey as Christians and to love as Christ loves us. It is a transformation and conditioning of our mind, body, and spirit so that we too, as instructed by Jesus, can help make a difference in the lives of others in our love for God. Love with all your mind and soul and love your brothers as you love yourself… then we can truly see the image of the love of our Heavenly Father in mankind.
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
