Agape With AGAPE

1. In a state of wonder or amazement, as with the mouth wide open.

2. Wide open.

This, of course, is the English form of the the spelling and not what I was looking for at all.  But it made me smile, because lately it has been my RESPONSE to the other AGAPE:

Definition: Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.

The Greek definition wasn’t new to me.  For that matter, neither was the English.  But the connection between the two was the best description of how I want one to cause the other in me.

God’s love for us, AGAPE, is unconditional.  but what does that really mean?  I like this definition of unconditional that I found:

Just. Because. Period.

An unearned gift that is given regardless of the response.  No strings attached.  No expectations of love in return.  No certain behaviors required.  Available at any time.  Constant.  Non-negotiable.  Forever.

The kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

AGAPE love is patient –  it’s never in a hurry.

AGAPE love is kind –  even when I am undeserving of kindness.

AGAPE love is not envious – it celebrates my victories even when I don’t notice.

AGAPE love does not boast – it doesn’t need to – it speaks for itself in the act itself.

AGAPE love is not proud –  even though it “casts out fear” and trumps all other gifts.

AGAPE love does not dishonor others – even when I do dishonorable things.

AGAPE love is not self- seeking – it looks out for my best interest.

AGAPE love is not easily angered –  even when I am difficult.

AGAPE love keeps no record of wrongs – it forgives fully and moves on.

AGAPE love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth – it corrects when I get it wrong and celebrates when I get it right.

AGAPE love always protects – it has my back.

AGAPE love always trusts – it believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself.

AGAPE love always hopes – it knows the very best is possible in and for me.

AGAPE love always perseveres – it goes on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever not matter what.

AGAPE love never fails – it is constant, always reliable, never ending.

THAT’S how God loves me.  THAT’S how God loves YOU!!!!

How can we not stand with our mouths and hearts AGAPE in response to His AGAPE love????

And because I experience that love every second of every minute of every hour of every day of my life, because it lives inside me, because it is alive and eternal and boundless, I can pass that kind of love on to others!  Not because I can somehow conjure it up out of my own abilities and resources but because I am home to HIS AGAPE LOVE and HIS ABILITIES and RESOURCES and POWER at work in me!

a·gape ¹  (ə-gāp′, ə-găp′)