Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: LOVE (agape and/or phileo) (03/12/15)
-
TITLE: LOVE IS | Previous Challenge Entry
By Hazel Robinson
03/18/15 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The New Testament has over 200 references to Agape/Phileo/Brotherly love. One that stands out to me is “Motivation for action that we are free to either choose or reject; sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomforts, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return."
We, as Christians, are called to agape love through Christ’s example in Ephesians 5:1-2. “But ye, therefore be followers of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savior.”
Unlike our English word love, agape (Greek) is not used in the Bible to refer to romantic love as we know and define it. Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.
Today’s Challenge, Agape/Phileo, brought these words to my mind.
1. Overflow: As I began to grow in Christ, I begin to understand, somewhat, the Scriptural statement, “loving your neighbor as yourself.” When we come to “love the Lord, our God, with all our hearts and all our minds, and all our strength, the overflow will be that we will “Love our neighbors as ourselves.”
2. Humility:
The dictionary defines the word humility – “a modest or low view of one’s own importance with synonyms humbleness, meekness, diffidence. The Christian life is all about humility, and humility deals with the mind. Being a Christian means being like Christ, and to be like Christ, as , as the Book of Philippians tells us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, because He was God, but made himself of no reputation…” In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul writes about “renewing the mind.”
Reflecting on the depth of Agape love, I was inspired to write this poem:
LOVE IS – ALL OF LIFE
This year, in 2015,
Let’s do something special
Let’s resolve to keep God’s Commandments!
Let’s love our sister and our brother,
Look out for each other,
Do all things that are right,
And precious in His sight.
Let’s be kind and thoughtful persons,
Always giving fruitful answers.
Let’s spread seeds of love and good cheer
With pleasant words
Of hope and comfort
To all that are near.
And, let’s always be concerned
About wrongs being done to our
Neighbors and friends;
And, as peacemakers,
Try to bring joy and harmony again.
Let’s be careful that we care enough
To worry, when our friends won’t see
Or refuse to listen to what’s being said
The result being, tempers, so easily fed.
But, we’ve got to be sure
that our motives are pure!
Only then, will we know
That we’re winning the fight
Making sure that they know
What’s wrong and what’s right.
First, though, we must always remember what Jesus said,
About loving one’s neighbor as one’s self.
This means giving a lot of you and me;
Sharing spiritually, mentally, physically -
Accepting the whole world as our responsibility.
So, for this entire year,
Let’s resolve to be true,
Persevere, stick to our goals.
How? By following His lead
In every thought, word, and deed;
Being confident that He’s with us
To take us in
And bless us to the next year - 2016.
Again, to show agape love, we are admonished to “Let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God bless~