Agape love is the highest form of love: an unselfish concern for others. It is selfless, sacrificial and unconditional. This agape love is kind when face-to-face with harshness and cruelty, gives to others what one might want to keep for their own, and puts others’ needs above one’s own. This kind of love becomes evident in a believer’s heart when it is yielded to the Holy Spirit. This kind of love is a strong choice, not a fleeting feeling.
Have a genuine love for others:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)
Everyone is aware that they are different from everyone else. If not, believe me, someone will point it out to them by way of rejection, mockery or hateful comment. When you can accept and celebrate the differences of all people, then you can say that you genuinely love others. When your concern for their well-being, health and prosperity prompts you to help them you are showing that you genuinely love them. Pray that you will have a heart that sees others as Christ sees them---as someone who craves acceptance and needs compassion. Just like you once did.
Even your enemies:
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. …and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:35 (NIV)
Remember when YOU were an enemy of God? (Colossians 1:21 NIV) Take a moment and recall how He loved you when you were ungrateful and wicked. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV). Love your enemies. Enough said?
Love yourself:
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—“ Ephesians 5:29 (NIV)
Loving yourself includes caring for your body by eating, resting, cleaning and clothing it, and maintaining your health. These activities show respect and gratitude for the marvelous creature that you are. Know who you are and whose you are…“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ” Genesis 1:27 (NIV) and “you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)
Love God:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matt.22:37 (NIV)
Love, faith, trust and obedience are ways we show our love to Him. We show our love of God by loving others. We are to keep our minds on Him, hide His Word in our hearts and commit our ways to His ways.
Love the things of God:
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” 1 John 5:3 (NIV)
His laws lead us to Him and away from sin, helps us to know Him more and to find greater joy in Him, helps us to live more peaceable lives, and shows us how much He cares for us. Seek to do good to others. Serve and obey Him with joy and gladness. Worship the Lord and praise Him for He is worthy. Pray for the lost. Give offerings of time and money. Tithe.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
LIVING THE LIGHT
Fruit of the Spirit: Love
Galatians 5:22-24
Agape love is the highest form of love: an unselfish concern for others. It is selfless, sacrificial and unconditional. This agape love is kind when face-to-face with harshness and cruelty, gives to others what one might want to keep for their own, and puts others’ needs above one’s own. This kind of love becomes evident in a believer’s heart when it is yielded to the Holy Spirit. This kind of love is a strong choice, not a fleeting feeling.
Have a genuine love for others:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)
Everyone is aware that they are different from everyone else. If not, believe me, someone will point it out to them by way of rejection, mockery or hateful comment. When you can accept and celebrate the differences of all people, then you can say that you genuinely love others. When your concern for their well-being, health and prosperity prompts you to help them you are showing that you genuinely love them. Pray that you will have a heart that sees others as Christ sees them---as someone who craves acceptance and needs compassion. Just like you once did.
Even your enemies:
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. …and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:35 (NIV)
Remember when YOU were an enemy of God? (Colossians 1:21 NIV) Take a moment and recall how He loved you when you were ungrateful and wicked. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV). Love your enemies. Enough said?
Love yourself:
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—“ Ephesians 5:29 (NIV)
Loving yourself includes caring for your body by eating, resting, cleaning and clothing it, and maintaining your health. These activities show respect and gratitude for the marvelous creature that you are. Know who you are and whose you are…“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ” Genesis 1:27 (NIV) and “you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)
Love God:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matt.22:37 (NIV)
Love, faith, trust and obedience are ways we show our love to Him. We show our love of God by loving others. We are to keep our minds on Him, hide His Word in our hearts and commit our ways to His ways.
Love the things of God:
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” 1 John 5:3 (NIV)
His laws lead us to Him and away from sin, helps us to know Him more and to find greater joy in Him, helps us to live more peaceable lives, and shows us how much He cares for us. Seek to do good to others. Serve and obey Him with joy and gladness. Worship the Lord and praise Him for He is worthy. Pray for the lost. Give offerings of time and money. Tithe.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV)