Agape

I long for a moment to gaze upon the world, and see the image that God's sees. I long to understand the complexities of life that reach far beyond my mind. I long for a deeper understanding of the need for God's LOVE to reach the nations. However, how can I understand the fullness of God's love when I'm surrounded by superficial relationships, distasteful media messages, and a broken family of my own? I cannot. I can never understand the fullness of Agape love that was nailed to the cross and suffered the fullness of God's wrath on the sins of all mankind, that made Christ sweat tears of blood for the sins He would carry to the grave. A King once on His throne in Heaven, pure, holy, and innocent, yet dying on a cross! A cross... He stepped down from His throne, abandoned His home, and humbled himself to death on a cross. That is love and it's power was seen as Christ was raised from death to life! Why can we not understand this love? We love those who give up some time for us each day, but Christ gave up His life for us. We are constantly plagued by love messages that degrade what real love is. If we're not careful we can start viewing love in all the wrong ways. Agape love is not the warm fuzzy feeling you get in your heart for the person you feel is "the one", it is not the puppy love of passing notes in class and late night phone calls, it is not the movie that makes you cry the thousandth time you've watched it, it is not your favorite dessert that grandma spent hours baking.

Agape
God is Love.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." John 4: 7-12

How do we show Agape?
Follow Christ's example.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12: 9-13


Yesterday at my church, I watched The Passion of The Christ. It was my first time seeing the film. I don't believe anyone walked out that night without their eyes stained with tears. Christ is Agape. You cannot seek or find any other Love like this. Agape love changes lives, saves souls, heals sinners, lifts the lowly, shows no partiality, forgives always, is so undeserved, yet God Loved us so much to offer this Love to all. What a beautiful King!