Tag: agape

The Return Policy…

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2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”

Have you ever received a gift that was completely unsuitable? Then you discover that the store has a return policy. When you take your gift in they will exchange it for something you can really use. You leave with what you actually need.

This verse lets us know that we don’t have to accept every gift that is offered to us. In fact God has a super exchange policy that is available to every believer. He says that if we ever receive the spirit of fear we can come to him and exchange it for power, love and a sound mind. Now that’s a great deal!

Often the spirit of fear tries to blow into our life. It leaves cowardice, timidity, fear and intimidation as gifts for us. These gifts DO NOT come from God, so we don’t want them. We need to exchange them for things that we can always use. God says he will give us explosive spiritual power, agape love and a disciplined self-controlled mind whenever we exchange them with him. Now that’s a great deal!

This week let’s make this great exchange. Come to God with you unwanted gifts of cowardice, timidity, fear and intimidation and exchange them for His gifts of power, love and a sound mind. You will appreciate them and use them continually. You’ll be so glad you swapped them!

Love Your Future…

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1 Corinthians 2:9 “…No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Have you ever visited someone’s home and smelt a roast dinner baking in the oven. Even though you have not seen, heard or even imagined that dinner there is an instantly hope you might get invited to stay and enjoy it with them.

Our verse explains that God has cooked up something very special for us. He has provided, prepared and made ready our future. He has promised a future that will eclipse our past.

Now, stop and ponder on this for a moment… God has prepared a future that is so magnificent that it is beyond anything we have ever seen, heard or even imagined. I have seen, heard and imagined some gigantic things but God says that He has tirelessly prepared something even bigger for our future. WOW!

So, how do we access this future? We are told that God has already prepared it for those who “love” him. This word “Love’ comes from the word “agape”. It means to love unconditionally and unbounded. It is how God loves us and how we should love Him.

Let the agape love of God consume you this week. If you feel you need more ask the father and He will provide and before you know it you will be walking in what God has prepared for you.

PS: In the past we sent an Encouragement on Agape Love titled “Close the Gate” You can read it again on our blog by clicking here. It will help you to understand agape love and activate it in your life.

Close the Gate…

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1 Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.”

We can all remember the squeak that an old garden gate made or the sound of the creak & slam of the derelict screen door on an old house. We often remember these familiar sounds for a long time. Other strong memories may include a kind and helpful teacher or the person who helped us when no one else would.

Today’s verse helps us to see what actions bring divine value to our life. The key here is “love”. This word comes from the Greek “agape”. This is the type of love that is unconditional and unbounded by anything – it is the type of love God shows to us. It is the type of love God wants us to show to each other.

It doesn’t matter how well we speak of others or how passionate our words are towards them. If we don’t unconditionally love them we sound like that squeaking gate every time we open our mouth. Remember we cannot fool God. His ear is listening for the sweet sound of love every time we speak. He doesn’t want to hear the sound of that loveless gate squeaking again.

Challenge yourself this week to allow the Holy Spirit to invest a new deposit of agape love into your life. Open your Bible and get into God’s Word. The Word will help wash away past offenses and hurt that you may carry. It will be like putting oil on that rusty hinge. The new sound that God hears is sure to bring pleasure to His ears.

It must be love, love, love…

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1 John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” [KJV]

This week on Valentines Day couples all around the world celebrate their love for each other. Each person will express his or her love in a different way. Some will be extravagant with cards, roses, chocolates and dinner while others may be more conservative with a simple “I love you”.

But God has a greater love than all of this! It’s a special type of love called “agape” love. It is an extravagant, selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love that God expresses towards us continually. No matter who we are or what we have done, God wants us to know and believe that He loves us this way. God is full and overflowing with agape love for YOU right now.

What is even more amazing is this: as we soak and bathe in God’s extravagant agape love we will discover that we are actually abiding in Him.  As His love abides in us it oozes through every fibre of our being reaching out to our family, friends and the world.

This week make a choice to abide in God’s agape love. You will then discover His extravagant love abiding in you.