Agape Love

    

         During the final week of the life of Jesus on earth, much happened.  The Gospel of John spends a lot of time, from chapters 12-20, dealing with the last week.  Chapter 12 begins with the preparation for the entry into Jerusalem and Chapter 20 begins with the events of the tomb and the fact of the risen Savior.  Everything else in between tells us what happened during that last week.  One of the events, was the account of the "new commandment."  John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."   

     Jesus tells them this and it has become of great importance ever since.  This type of love was indeed rare in the Greek language.  The Greeks knew of other types of love, but they didn't know that much about this type of "agape" love.  They didn't know of the "righteous deeds to meet the needs of another."  This has become a prominent teaching, however, in New Testament times.  We often find that certain attributes of the Christian faith are more difficult than others.  This is one of them.  One might think that love should be easy to do, but it doesn't.  The world, following the lead of Hollywood and other so called experts, have missed the mark so badly on the issue of love, that everyone seems confused.  The real issue of love cannot be found in most cases.  It, love, is that act of doing things, right things, for others who have need of them.  It is doing when you don't feel like doing.  It is loving those whom you don't feel like loving.  It is following the example of Christ in all of your dealings in life.  So, it has become very difficult to actually do in the present day church.  You don't have to be a prophet to look around and see the evidence.  Churches are splitting and forming other churches.  Pastors and other church leaders are becoming involved in extra marital affairs.  Anger and division are evident throughout the world.  The testimony of churches has become so ineffective, that no one really knows who the real Christians are.  Did you remember the last sentence of today's Scripture?  "...By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples..."  It's not the bumper sticker that says, "Jesus is the Answer" nor is it the religious jewelry or other quaint gadgets that we have that identifies the true believer.  It is their love for one another that should be the primary example.  So, when you wonder the testimony of believers is falling a little short, take a look at the "love issue."  Remember, this is not about feeling good, having your heart skip a beat over someone or the general warm fuzzies.  It's about doing right things for people who have needs in their lives and having people do right things for the needs that's in your life.   Love is righteous acts to meet the needs of another.   Praise God today for His love in sending His Son to die for our sins.  Now, that's real love.