Agape love

Do you LOVE material things? Something my mom pointed out to me recently is how often I say I love things, I love smoothies, I love my bed, I love my hair (when it behaves).  This is wrong, this is changing our understanding of love. God's love is something called 

 Agape, [ä gä pā]  not (of the mouth) wide open, especially with surprise or wonder. I advise you research the biblical definition. 

     Christianity.com says "Agape love is a sacrificial love that unites and heals. It is the love of God that we see through the cross of Jesus Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Agape is a Greek word pronounced ah-gah-pay

Agape love is a love of choice, not out of attraction or obligation 

Agape love is what Jesus Christ displayed on the cross for us as he took our place for the sin

     The word "agape" is used 106 times throughout the New Testament, with the most use in the book of 1 John. Read those verses here. " 

I used the concept of agape love to help my find peace read my story.

     This concept is one that fascinated my mom and she researched intently, she looked up the other Greek words for love. If we started to say I like, I like smoothies, I like my bed, I like my hair, we might put more emphasis on love. In a romantic relationship we put great emphasis on 'the L-word', yet we say love your neighbor. If we began to make a distinction between love, We would better understand the way God loves us. It is almost entirely impossible to love the way God does, has, and will. 

     Can you love someone so intently that you give not just your life, as in death, but give your life as your goals, dreams, motivations, be entirely for them, intentionally? God planned to have his son die on the cross from the moment Atom ate the forbidden fruit. God has been completely faithful to his plan to save us, even when we acted like stupid disobedient children. He has been working on a gift for us ever since he knew we needed it, grace is the gift he offers for free. There can be no greater love than to give up one's life for a friend.

PRRAY- praise, repent, remember, ask, yield

Father, what can I say that has not already been said, your greatness has been resounded for generations. I am just another voice praising you in a crowd of many, still I will sing your praise with every breath you gave me. With all my strength, heart, and soul and most of all my passion, I will proclaim the name of the Lord my God. I am not worthy to tie your sandals, I have defiled everything you gave me. You wash me clean, I am now clean like my ancestors before me, your Agape has not failed. Be with me and my readers, allow me to inspire someone, to be a light to all who see me. I surrender. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.