Article researched by: Sister Myrtice Robinson
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
1 John 4:20 NIV
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
It is the “Will of God” for us to Love one another. It is stated in John 13: 34, “A new command I [Jesus] give you: Love one another. As I [Jesus] have loved you, so you must love one another.”
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
As children of God, we must love others in the way that Jesus modeled love for us. This type of love is unconditional (Agape) love. Unconditional love is to love someone no matter what life throws at us. This is true love, and is where real love begins. It is when you choose to care about another person’s happiness without demanding any benefits for yourself. True love requires us to love our enemy in a God-like way. Remember God causes His sun to rise on the evil as well as the good, and He also sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Reference Matthew 5: 43-45). Love is an act of will, a free-will choice. It is a fruit of the Spirit that requires decisions and with the help of the Holy Spirit through God’s grace it will be given. “Thank the Lord for God’s grace! This kind of love comes only from God, which He gives us to pass on to others.” It is not selfish love. After receiving this Love, it must be activated within our will. This activation causes us to give love when we do not want to give it. It causes us to reach out to others when we are tired and want to rest as well as when we are mistreated by others. It causes us to serve when we want to be served, and to help others when we are mentally and physically hurting. These “acts of love” are “acts of will” not acts of emotion. Jesus gave, served, died on the cross, was resurrected from the grave on the third day, asked for the Holy Spirit to come and be our Comforter and Helper and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right of God, The Father, where He is STILL at this present time, interceding for our sins and abundant living on earth. THIS IS AN ACT OF WILL AND NOT AN ACT OF EMOTION. “Love has work to do, and love does that work. Love takes action-even when doing so requires strenuous effort.” (stated from A Young Woman’s Walk with God by Elizabeth George) Showing love is not only through words and gestures but most of all by your action. Love is what it does!
Living a life of love is a calling to every believer. It is an assignment from God to love everyone and show it through action. Pure love comes from the heart that is given by God. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God.”
(Matthew 5: 8)
How to put your love to action:
- Love is not how you feel, it is how you act.
- Surprise someone with an unexpected phone call. Tell them something beautiful and unique about themselves.
“I Just called to say I love you” by Stevie Wonder - Give or send a handwritten card or letter expressing your empathy.
- Prepare a meal for an individual or family.
- Give a true “BIG” hug.
- Forgive and tell someone you love them.
- Being truthful without an intent to hurt
- Be a volunteer to do chores or run errands for someone in a time of need. No pay!
- Don’t be only a good weather friend, when sadness, sickness, and troubled times are upon someone you know, cook them a meal and take the time to visit with them, be present for them, encourage them with God’s promises using positive gestures, be a good listener.
- Compliment people with the truth. For example, That’s a beautiful dress and that color looks good on you!
- Show extraordinary gratitude towards others for their kindness.
- Greet people with “How are you” and a smile instead of just “Hey” and a straight face.
- Send flowers to a sick person at home or hospital.
- Share your saving with someone in destitution.
- Call and ask them, could you pray for them or with them. Tell them about how Jesus loves them and How the Holy Spirit bring comfort and how THEY are interceding on our behalf.
- Buy them a small gift and say I saw this and thought about you. The gift can be from the Dollar Store.
- Give a new mom her own gift along with the baby’s gift.
- Give family photos at Christmas and other occasions.
- Use a kind voice and kind gestures. Smile and laugh with others in a positive conversation.
- Share a good recipe and share portions of your cooked recipes.
- Pick up trash in your neighbor’s yard.
- Pay for a strangers’ toll.
- Give an appreciation party.
- Keep your promise.
- Complain without accusing and answer without arguing.
- Show trust.
In Conclusion, remember Agape Love does not come naturally to us in our sinful state. However, it does come naturally to God and is part of His Being. Therefore, by drawing close to Him and experiencing His love we can begin to understand what real love means. Only through God can we show, execute, and experience Agape Love.
“In Christianity, agape is “the highest form of love, charity, and “the love of God for man and of man for God.” It embraces a deep and profound sacrificial love that transcends and continues regardless of circumstance.” (Wikipedia)
Have a Happy Love Life!
References:
- Holy Bible
- A Young Woman’s Walk with God by Elizabeth George
- lifehack.org — (7 Ways To Practice Unconditional Love That Will Change Your Life)
Article Researched by Sister Myrtice Robinson
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry