What is agape love? It is the highest form of love, the kind of love that God has for us and that we are called to have for one another. It is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, and active. It is not based on feelings or emotions, but on a deliberate choice to seek the best for others, even when they are undeserving or unresponsive.
This love is the foundation of the church, and this love’s foundation is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect expression of love, who came to earth to die for our sins and to reconcile us to God. He loved us while we were still sinners, and commands us to love one another as He has loved us. He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35, ESV)
How can we love like Jesus? We can’t do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit, who pours out God’s love into our hearts and enables us to love with agape love. We also need to abide in Jesus, who is the source of love. He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved You. Abide in my love.” (John 15:9, ESV) As we abide in Jesus, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV)
Agape love is not easy, but it is possible. It is possible because God first loved us, and gives us the grace and the power to love others. It is possible because Jesus is our example and our motivation. It is possible because the Holy Spirit is our helper and our guide. It is possible because we are the church, the body of Christ, and we are called to love one another as He has loved us.
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your agape love, the love that is unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless. The love that never fails, never gives up, and never runs out. The love that sent Your Son to die for us, and that raised Him from the dead.
Lord, we confess that we often fall short of Your love. We struggle to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We struggle to love our neighbors as ourselves. We struggle to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We struggle to love the least of these, the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, the forgotten.
Lord, we ask for Your forgiveness and Your grace. We ask for Your power and Your presence. We ask for Your Spirit and Your guidance. We ask for Your wisdom and Your discernment. We ask for Your courage and Your compassion.
Lord, we pray that You would help us to love like You love. To love with agape love, the love that is possible because of You. To love with agape love, the love that is possible because of Jesus. To love with agape love, the love that is possible because of the Holy Spirit. To love with agape love, the love that is possible because of the church.
Lord, we pray that You would fill us with Your love, and that You would overflow us with Your love, so that we can share it with the world. We pray that Your love would transform us, and that Your love would transform the world. We pray that Your love would be seen, and that Your love would be known.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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