Agape Love
Agape love is God's kind of love. Jesus
was the greatest expression of love that ever came into the world, but it is
never recorded that he ever said the words, "I love you!" Why?
Because he sought the welfare and betterment of all of mankind regardless of
how he felt. Agape does not have the primary meaning of feelings or affection.
Jesus didn’t get
up that morning on the day that he died and say, “I feel like dying for the world.” It is recorded in the gospels just hours before he gave his life that he prayed,
"Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not
as I will, but as thou wilt" His agape love to do His Fathers will was stronger than his feelings
for himself. His actions were independent in
that he loved even when he knew mankind would not respond as he would want. It is
self-giving in meeting real needs of the other with the purpose of helping the
person to become a better, more mature individual. We can agape our enemies regardless of how we
feel. If they are hungry, we can feed them; if they thirst we can give them a
drink (Rom. 12:20-21). We can choose to seek the betterment and welfare of
others regardless of how we feel. Why? Because
95 percent of all love is non-verbal. Jesus did not love with just words but in
deeds and truth (1 Jn. 3:18). If your actions contradict your words, what are
people going to believe, your words or your actions? Your actions of course.
Vine's Expository Dictionary states, "Love can be known only from the
actions it prompts"
This is the kind of love that sustains marriage. There will be times when you are married when
you will not have Eros love or even Phileo Love but you can always have Agape
love because it is a choice of how you will behave. I cannot tell you the number
of times my wife has told me, “I don’t like your right now but I love you.” And
because she had Agape love it sustain Eros and Phileo love. Agape love takes the initiative and energizes
the other two kinds of love.
1Co 13:4-8, “Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or
conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does
not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the
truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love
is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are
gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge,
but it will pass
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