We are saved by faith (Eph 2:8) and the hope of heaven is an anchor to our soul (Heb 6:19). But love is greater than these. Agape love is the inward attitude we have toward God and our fellow man.
This agape love causes us to be longsuffering with others, to be kind, and to seek the good of others over our own good. It is by this agape love we bear the weaknesses of others, are inclined to believe and hope the best of others, and endure all things that come against us with grace.
Check yourself to see if you are bigoted or slanderous toward those Christians that disagree with you. Those that don’t believe the same doctrines or hold to the same rules. Those that attend a different congregation.
Speak as well as you can of those that disagree with you. Love them and be kind toward them. Go out of your way to help them.
If a person attacks your character or falsely accuses you, pray for them that God will bless them. Speak well of them and when you see them express your love toward them. Never repay evil for evil.
This is agape love as is laid out in 1Cor 13. Without this agape love you are nothing and all that you do has no profit.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.�
–1Cor 13:1-13
Recent Comments