Warning: I may break my promise today. How is it possible to limit myself to one or two short paragraphs when writing about agape?

My Bible includes a word study section, giving definitions of a select list of Hebrew and Greek words prominent in the Scriptures. Here’s the definition of agape, the Greek word used most often for Christ’s love:

“The attitude or emotion of deep affection for another person, with a focus on loving action and not feelings alone.”

God’s love for us focuses on loving action! What if, instead, He were a god who merely sat on a celestial throne and regarded us with affection yet never came into our lives? 

What in your life has come from God’s loving action?  Where do you see His hand? How has He expressed His agape  to you?

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p.s. To correctly type agape, I need that little line above the “e”. Can anyone tell me how to do that?

Jesus said He came to this world for one thing: to give us life.

I am the good shepherd…My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life … So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 

What kind of love is this? A holy, holy God looks on us and knows that we will always be afflicted with wandering and rebellion. And yet He wants us to know Him and love Him.

And so He heals us by suffering Himself, taking the punishment that would bring us peace.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
     he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace
         was upon him,
and by his  wounds we are healed.

How can we ever grasp the depth of such love?

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Scripture: from John 10; Isaiah 53: 5 (NLT)

God has had to break down some barriers between us. One of those barriers was my perception of Him as a stern and demanding authority whom I had to please with my thoughts and actions … or else!  

I began to understand His love for me when words like this began to break through: 

I have called you by name; you are mine.

He goes on to say that I am precious to Him, honored and loved. He created and formed me for His glory. And because I wandered and got myself in deep trouble, He paid a ransom to get me back. He says,

You have been chosen to know me,
     believe in me,
and understand that I alone am God.

Wow. How those words from the Almighty have changed my relationship with Him!

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Scripture: from Isaiah 43 (NLT)

Well. Yes. I did have a grand 35-day plan. But already yesterday, on Day 3, I fumbled and dropped the ball.

So I was kicking myself around a bit for that. Then, before I went to bed, I flipped over my daily calendar to March 8, and here was this reminder from my Father:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Aren’t you glad we can always trust, always depend on His love and His mercy? We will never be disappointed when we go to Him. Surely goodness and love and mercy follow us every day.

Amen.

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Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV)