Love Is?Sample

In this passage of scripture, the apostle Paul instructs us on a few fundamental things about what many have come to understand is agape or God’s kind of love. I would define it as the highest form of love because it's the love that characterizes the very essence of who God is and how He operates. Reading about and even understanding this type of love is one thing. Putting it into practice in our daily lives is a totally different thing. Somebody once said, "Love isn't always easy." No lies detected here. This four-day devotional addresses four foundational principles that we see in the "love chapter" of the Bible: 

1. Love (Agape) is essential to Christian discipleship

2. Love (Agape) is the greatest motivator

3. Love (Agape) is a choice

4. Love (Agape) isn’t always easy 

Day 1 - Love (agape) Is Essential to Christian Discipleship

I once heard someone say, "I love God. It's just people I can't stand." If we're going to be honest, I think that we have all been there. People, even Christian people, can be difficult to love. It's funny when you read that statement because as believers, we know that you absolutely cannot love God and exclude people from the equation. God is all about people. We have to learn to be about people. Therein lies the difficulty and the reason why Paul wrote this passage of scripture. 

All of us people can be difficult to love. Ask your spouse if you're married. Ask your children if you're a parent. Ask your parent if you're a child. You can even ask your closest friends. We are all difficult to love at times. Yet, even in that difficulty, living by the agape love of God is essential to Christian discipleship and training. The Bible teaches us that the world will know us by our love (John 13:35). Not by how we preach or teach, or by how big or beautiful our houses of worship are. Only by how we love. Sobering when you really think about it, right? Agape is the responsibility of every believer. A person's introduction to Jesus Christ and eternal life is based upon how we love. I know! That's really heavy! Now, take a deep breath and then exhale. We've got this because when God is working in and through us and in our weakness, His strength is made perfect!

So, what do we do now? How do we get our "love game" up and increase our love walk? First, we put our way down, and pick up God's way. His way is perfect (without flaws) and always yields good results. Second, we remember that love always wins, and hate, disappointment, or offense are heavy burdens to bear. There are enough hardships in life. Offense is bondage. Love is freedom! Third, we offer grace. As much as we think or believe that people are irritating, we must not forget that we are people too. We've irritated, disappointed, or failed someone and we were given grace. Agape extends grace. Agape says give out the same grace that you want to receive. The God-kind of love must become the primary characteristic of our lives. Out of it everything else flows and we live freely from the bondage of offense.

What can you do differently to increase your love walk?