Love

Good morning brothers and sisters. I have spoken several times on agape love and that is the kind of love that we as Christ followers are called to. So on here today, I want to talk about love some more. Agape comes from the Greek word agapao. There are several other words that are used to describe the different types of love. Phileo which means brotherly love. Eros which is erotic love. Storge which is family love. But agape love is different. Agape love is the sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return. Agape love is not selfish. God has agape love for us and we are to be imitators of our Lord and Savior. Ephesians 5:1-2- 1-Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2- And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smellling aroma. And we are to love people the same way. We don't always like what they do but we are to love them. Jesus explains this in Matthew 43-48. 43- You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44- But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45- that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46- For if you love those who love, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47- And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48- Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect. We are called to love like Jesus loves us. And notice it is God who exposes the evil and the good, not us! Even the person is evil, God will shine His light and there will be no denying it. It will be brought forth. So let's put off all hate and put on love like Jesus showed us how to do. We can't say we agape love God if we don't agape love our fellow human beings whom God also loves. Galatians 5:14- For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself. See when we first agape love God, we then agape love our fellow human beings and fulfill God's law. One word- LOVE! Have a blessed day and rise up children of God, rise up!