Saturday, April 5, 2014

Things Pondered: Love



"The Greeks called it agape. God called it a supernatural expression and something only He can do. But He does it through hearts vacated by their own responses and made available for His. Agape is a kind of love God demonstrates to one person through another. Romans 5:8 gives us the perfect example, 'But God demonstrates His own love [agape] for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

In others words, God loved us through Christ. His word also says, 'As I have loved you, so you must love one another' (John 13:34). Just as He demonstrated His love to us through Christ, God desires to demonstrate His love to others through us.

No doubt, God has placed you in the position to love the unlovely, whether or not you've been obedient to that comment. In fact, I think that we can surmise that anyone among us who is not struggling with loving someone isn't getting out enough! It's one of His priority agendas. He wants to use us to love with a supernatural supply someone we never could love otherwise. No believer can avoid this crucial high calling. Agape is an obedient response of availability to God, not a feeling. But, although it is not a feeling, its ultimate end is a feeling. You'll never respond to God with the mind of Christ that you do not finally end up with the heart of Christ. It's nothing less than supernatural. A pure, unadulterated miracle. See it for yourself -- 'Love never fails' (1 Corinthians 13:8)."



~ Beth Moore, "Things Pondered"






3 comments:

  1. Love this! My favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon are about this very topic:

    Moroni chapter 7:
    46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

    47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

    48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

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  2. Beth Moore just KNOWS when you need to hear something, doesn't she? What a gifted teacher she is! I've seen her live three times and always come away comforted.

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