A Life of Love

We are all looking for love in one way or another. We were all created with a craving for love. God created it, and so it is good, when used properly.

1. Eros- romantic kind of love.

2. Phileo- a friendship kind of love.

3. Storge- Committed kind of love. A family love.

4. Agape- Mature, Sacrificial kind of love.

Obviously, all these loves work together, but only agape love is free from error and our humanity. Agape is the glue that holds all the other loves together and gives us the wisdom and patience when all the others fail.

First and foremost, Agape love is not predicated on a feeling but a fact. That means we are going to do a lot of things that we don’t feel like doing but because it is the right thing to do. Jesus, 3 times said, let this cup pass. Sometimes the “thing” that is right, may be downright difficult.

A wise person once told me, “Nicole, sometimes you have to do the right thing and let your emotions catch up later, and they will.” WOW!

Oh, what manner of love Father has lavished on us that we would be called the sons of God and such we are. 1 John 3:1-3

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

When was the last time you showered praise on someone and really meant it. When was the last time you responded to someone in way that sounded so encouraging because you meant it from your heart?

Any development takes time to evolve.

My sister taught me how make Lasagna, but the very first time, i messed up it was runny. My kids said that it tasted bland. They begged me not to make it again. But after a few tries, my children began to request it for dinner on days other than a Sunday. Now I can make it and taste good.

We have to allow love to develop. We have got to give people time to develop.

Have you ever known someone who use to be harsh and over time, you have seen the change? They are not the same person anymore, when they begin to tell you what they use to do, you are utterly shocked. Back in the day, it was nothing for them to pull out a knife, it was nothing for them to cuss you out, but now, there is a humility and some patience that has replaced that other character. But we want it to develop to a point where we are not afraid to encourage one another. Not afraid to show love because we are worried about what people will think.

God is omnipotent, of course, all powerful. God is omniscient; it goes without saying! He Knows all things. God is omnipresent, everywhere at all times. But here is the supreme wonder.

God is LOVE.

This is not just an attribute. It is the ULTIMATE face of His very being. He showers, rains down this love sovereignly on us, calling us the sons of God.

Now it’s your turn. We use the saying, “You can dish it but you can’t handle being dishing it out to you. We freely accept His love but do we, in turn freely give it out to others looking for nothing in return? Not to your best friends, not to the people you like, not to your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend, but I am talking about the seemingly unloveable, your haters, those who despitefully use you and talk about you and you know they don’t like you?

Luke and Matthew says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? You have not done any great thing.” That’s easy. There is no pressure, no friction, no confrontation, but they go on to say, For even sinners love those who love them. You have not done any great feat. You have not done anything that anybody else wouldn’t have done.

But if you love the seemingly unloveable, expecting nothing in return, your reward will be great.