“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
The Bible says “Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 CEV). This is the description of “agape,” the God-kind of love. It’s self-giving and never selfish. It puts others first. It takes no record of wrongs. This is the love that’s’ been shed abroad by the Holy Ghost in the heart of the believer (Romans 5:5).
Agape was what moved the Father to send His Son to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). This is absolutely different from human love, which to say the least is possessive, fickle and selfish. It doesn’t stand the test of time. It lasts only as long as the object of that love conforms to its expectations, and that’s because it’s based on natural emotions and desires. But the love of God, on the contrary, never fails! It doesn’t change even if the behaviour of the one to whom it is directed changes.
This is the reason God could love a world of wicked sinners, for He looked beyond their sins to see what they could be if they trusted in Him. And the good news is if you’re born again, you can love others the way God loves them; you no longer have to rely on your own willpower or human emotions to love them!
So, make sure you operate in the love of God and not in ordinary human love. Judge your love-standard from the description in 1 Corinthians 13, and you’ll always be on the right track in your love-walk.
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your unconditional love towards me. I manifest your love day by day since it’s been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost. I’m not selfish in the way I express my love towards others, neither do I rely on their emotions to love them, my love for them is in response and appreciation of the great love with which you’ve loved me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study
Jeremiah 31:3
Luke 6:35
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
