Living Beyond Myself ... Week 3

This week, we studied Agape (Love). Love, love, love.

And while I know we learned a lot about Agape, this just really caught my attention ... the characteristics of love. We all know them. In fact, 1 Cor. 13:4-8a is a scripture that is read at every single wedding I have ever gone to. In fact, it was read at mine, and probably read at yours, too.

Here it is in the NIV Version:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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." 1 Cor. 13:4-8a (NIV)

Now, I don't know about you... but because it's read so often, when I see this verse, it sort of falls dull, and I sort of think to my self... "yeah, yeah... love is patient, love is kind... yeah. Got it."

But do I really?

What if I were to put my name in front of each characteristic? Would the meaning of this passage still hold true? No. Of course not... because GiBee is not patient all the time. GiBee is not kind all the time. GiBee is envious every now and then... Well, you get the picture. And so do I.

But, I guess I've become immune to the NIV translation, because even when I do put my name in it, I still yawn. Shhh -- Don't tell anyone that I said that.

So, since you all know me so well, then you probably guessed at the very beginning of this post that I was NOT going to let the NIV translation get the best of me. So... here is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in the Message translation ... and let me warn you... it's an eye opener. Are you ready?

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first," doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies." 1 Cor 13:4-8a (The Message)

See what I mean? Yeah. I thought so. But, praise the Lord I have learned this week that Agape is a divine capacity to love. And -- it is more of a response than a feeling. And, hallelujah! It is expressed through me when I surrender to the power and temperament of the Holy Spirit.

And, this week's study recap about Agape would NOT be complete if I did not share with you the major elements of agape... which are particularly fitting, since we will be celebrating our saviors resurrection on Sunday...

Action and Sacrifice.

"This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him." 1 John 4:9 (The Message)

Y'all -- God DEMONSTRATED his love for us through the SACRIFICE of his own son. FOR us. So that we wouldn't have to carry the weight of our sins. He took it all for us!

HE DID THIS FOR ME ... AND FOR YOU.

Friend... He was beaten beyond recognition. Ridiculed and mocked. Betrayed. He was dragged through dirt streets carrying a wooden cross of horrific proportions. He was spat on. And ... He was crucified with NAILS. Real nails. He lost real blood. He was stabbed in the side. He was abandoned by his Father for one brief moment. And then he forgave us. And he died ... so that we might live.

I just don't know any one who could possibly love you more than Jesus.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend ... And ponder on the amazing Love our father has for us.