Foundations: Agape Love: Quotes Comments

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life (Psalm 27:4)

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Foundations
Christian Beliefs, Teachings, Doctrines, Christian Living, Christian Ethics

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them ...
is like a [wise] man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundations on a rock:
and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it:
for it was founded upon a rock (Luke 6:47-48)

Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10b-11)

Loving God and Others

"God loved us first, which enables us to love Him, which then expresses itself in love for one another" [source].

"The focus of love in the Bible is upward and outward instead of inward. Love is both an attitude and and action to one another. And while love may include sentiment and emotional affection, it is primarily volitional action for the glory of God and good of others" [source].

Relationships

"It is always vital to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a PERFECT person. We are all flawed and imperfect. And, because there are no perfect people, neither is there such a thing as a perfect relationship. Relationships can't be perfect, because they consist of imperfect people, who have flaws, faults, flatsides, shortcomings, inadequacies, and weaknesses. But Agape-love - the God kind of love ... says 'I'm not going to wait until you are perfect in my eyes or in every tiny little thing I want or think you ought to be, to love you, but rather I am going to totally accept and love you right now' ... Because God loves us like that ... with complete unmerited acceptance - it gives us the spiritual 'atmosphere' and impetus we need to change and grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. And, when we also extend that same kind of love and acceptance unto others, it produces the same ambience and results, which is what we really desire deep down in our heart of hearts in all our relationships. Essentially, it's the Law of Reciprocity of 'Golden Rule' in action - we are sowing what it is that we want to reap, and we reap what it is that we have sown" [source].

The Good Samaritan

"The story of the Good Samaritan, which follows the command to love one's neighbor, illustrates not only who is our neighbor, but what is meant by the word love. Here, love means to extend oneself beyond the point of convenience to accomplish what is deemed best for the neighbor. The idea is that we should seek the good of others just as fully as we seek the good (or what we may even mistakenly think is good) for ourselves - just as naturally as we tend to care for our own personal well-being" [source].

Thus saith the LORD,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls
(Jeremiah 6:16)