Agape love

       
There are some things that may get stirred up inside of us. Something that we have to remember is that no matter what someone says or does that may rattle our emotions, we cannot respond with bitterness. Christians are beginning to get a bad rap because of things being said or done against our beliefs. This usually causes us to respond with retaliation of bitterness and we justify it because what the other people are doing and saying are not biblical. So does this mean we become a hermit crab and lie silent? Not at all. You and I are suppose to be the reflection of Christ and in this reflect the love of Jesus Christ. We are to turn the other cheek and offer a sacrifice of our own fleshly response with Love. This is a very hard thing to accomplish. I have found that love speaks louder than the desires of the flesh to lash out in defense of our beliefs. This requires a discipline that has to be practiced and lived out on a daily basis. People like to refer to Jesus in the temple in Matthew 21:12 as he turned over tables in anger to drive those who buying and selling in the temple and use this to justify our getting angry. The difference is that Jesus did not become bitter and hold a grudge against the people, he was protecting his fathers house and left it to that.  We cannot become silent in all that is going on in the world, but we cannot be the reason for the world becoming intolerant by being bitter.
The Bible talks about various kinds of love. There's the Greek word "phileo," which means friendship or tender affection. Then there's "eros," which is the passionate love we feel for a lover. But there's a third kind, a higher kind of love.

"Agape" is the kind of love God has toward His Son and the human race. It's a love that sacrifices, the love that we see in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..."(NIV).

In saying all this remember why we are to love each other and develop the discipline that is needed to obtain and live out Agape love. Stay in the word, and let Christ become the center of your life of love and live it out and share with everyone you come in contact with.

Prayer starter: Jesus I want to live a life that reflects love to everyone, the agape love that you have shown us is what I need to practice and live out. Help me lord to accomplish this even in the presence of our adversaries.