1.
the love of God or Christ for humankind.
2.
the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love ofGod for humankind.
3.
unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications;brotherly love.
The 6 am sun burst has peeked over the hills, spilling into our home and kissing my cheeks a good morning. The smell of coffee and the fields full of 4 O'clocks have me in a chipper mood, that and reading this verse over and over again, hiding it's truth in my heart for the day ahead:
"If you keep my commandments you will abide in My Love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His Love." -John 15:10
The thing about God's love is it is no ordinary Love; it is Agape Love! It is not a feeling; it's a motivation for action that we are free to choose or reject. Agape is a sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return. We are called to agape love through Christ's example: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).
We are to agapao God (Matthew 22:37), our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), and even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-46). We are not to agapao money (Matthew 6:24), darkness (John 3:19), or men's approval (John 12:43).
The New Testament has over two-hundred references to agape love. Here are a few.
Matthew 24:12: With increased lawlessness in the end times, concern and caring for others will fade.
Luke 11:42: The legalism of the Pharisees, even their sacrifices, did not reflect a love of God.
John 15:9-10; Romans 13:10: When we agape love God, we show it by obeying His commandments because His commandments teach us how to love others.
John 15:13: The greatest demonstration of love anyone can give is to die for his friends.
e love God if we don't obey Him. It is impossible to love God while ignoring what He says. The two are inextricably connected, as Galatians 5:14 says: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Although 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the chapter on love, there is no book that speaks more about agape than 1 John. Two important themes come out of 1 John. The first is that it is inconsistent and false to claim we agape love God while not agape loving other believers. We cannot love God without loving brothers and sisters who also love Him. The second is that it is inconsistent and false to claim we agape love God if we don't obey Him. It is impossible to love God while ignoring what He says. The two are inextricably connected, as Galatians 5:14 says: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
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Oh dear Lord I pray that you fill my heart with Agape love for you and your commandments. That you weed out any idols in my life that are choking out the Love for you and your children. I pray with a discerning heart to see your Word to it's fullest potential, that my heart is a mirror image of yours!
That my life is a "Love Feast" For you dear Lord! In Jesus' Name!
Oh dear Lord I pray that you fill my heart with Agape love for you and your commandments. That you weed out any idols in my life that are choking out the Love for you and your children. I pray with a discerning heart to see your Word to it's fullest potential, that my heart is a mirror image of yours!
That my life is a "Love Feast" For you dear Lord! In Jesus' Name!
Speaking of Love, my oldest son, Noah recently received the Holy Ghost a Jr Camp with our church and was baptized two weeks later in Jesus' Name!
My heart has been singing in praise for this answered prayer of mine that I have been praying since he was just a few weeks old in my tummy! We celebrated by enjoying ice cream, singing to our favorite songs, and praying together a prayer that was prayed with me when I got saved!
Oh Noah, the hopes that I hope for you, the dreams that I dream for you; in Christ, they are that you hold steadfast to His love, His Word and His promises and His Blessings will be exceedingly abundant to you my dear, precious son.
Ephesians 3:20-21
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In other news my precious girl has been growing like a little dahlia! Her legs are so long I feel that when I pick her up they cover my entire body! She is beginning to talk so much and express herself in ways that are so clever, for instance, yesterday while reading a little golden book called, Baby's House she was pointing at the the baby getting in the tub and then slides down from my lap and scurries into my bathroom where her and Austin usually have a bath every night. She runs up to the tub and grabs, then turns to me and says baaa "bath."
A smart little cookie I tell ya and I exclaim to her father over the phone and we both nod in agreement of her being borderline genius perhaps! (hehe)
She also loves taking up Kitchen play, ever since her daddy put her adorable pink vintage kitchen together she has been banging the pots and the pans and testing out the shuttings of the refrigerator door and oven...it is the cutest sight to see her in her own little mini kitchen.
And one last thing she seems to love to do, as seen by example, is petting and talking to all of the beautiful blooming flowers this Summer. Our favorites being the sunflowers who stand tall and proud at 8 and 9 feet tall. I cut a few smalls ones to gift to our pastors wife for her birthday and I gently caressed the pedals and said, "pretty yellow sunflower, Aslynn" and her little fingers gently touch the tips of the powdery, yellow flower as opposed to batting every other thing she comes into contact with, so I will encourage her and say "Good girl! Gentle.." and in return I am rewarded with the cutest dimples and three toothed smile.
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