Agape Love acts and does not seek its own!
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Peter chapter 1:
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit in sincere Love of the brethren, Love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible Seed, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever,
We have within us, the Life of GOD, the Character of GOD, the behavior of GOD, the power of GOD, and most of all, the Love of GOD! When we walk in THE SPIRIT, we are submitting to those attributes of GOD within us. An incorruptible Seed produces an incorruptible Life. We are meant to produce the Life of GOD in our life.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Galatians chapter 5:
16 Let me emphasize: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (the carnal man).
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is Love (Agape), joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
There are four words in Scripture for Love:
Eros- sexual love, at its root, it means to demand, beg, or request; a carnal kind of love that is thinking of oneself. It is a “taking” kind of love.
Stergo- love for family, limited restricted kind of love between parents and children or between members of a family… even the love of a dog for its master. It reflects devotion and loyalty.
Phileo- love based on mutual satisfaction, it describes affection between two or more people who feel compatible, well matched, well suited friendship. If one no longer feels satisfied with this relationship, this love can be lost.
Agape- the Love with no strings attached, unconditional, the highest kind of Love. It is a giving kind of Love. Agape always focuses on someone else. Agape always describes the Love of GOD.
Agape occurs when an individual sees, recognizes, understands, or appreciates the value of an object or a person, causing the viewer to behold an object or a person in great esteem, awe, admiration, wonder, and sincere appreciation. Such great respect is awakened in the heart of the observer for the object or person he is beholding that he is compelled to Love it. In fact, his Love for that person or object is so strong that it is irresistible.
I cannot begin to describe all the facets of Agape Love!
With this understanding, we can better appreciate the Words Jesus spoke in John chapter 3:
16 For God so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Agape always drives one to action!
Agape is a Love that Loves so profoundly that it knows no limits or boundaries in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to show that Love to its recipient. If necessary, Agape Love will even sacrifice itself for the sake of that object or person it so deeply cherishes.
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 3:
16 By this we know Love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not Love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in Truth.
19 And by this we know that we are of the Truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
Our Kids In Need program reflects this kind of Love in action. We are not looking for what we can get, we are looking for what we can give to these kids.