TO SPEND AND BE SPENT
II Corinthians 12:15
"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."
This is pure agape love – to spend and be spent regardless of whether I am loved back. Paul's love for the Corinthians was not based on requited love. Jesus set the pattern. I believe Jesus would have given His life as an atoning sacrifice whether or not anyone would have loved Him back because of His great love for His creation. I heard a story recently of a man who loved a woman but she did not return his love. He wooed her faithfully for 30 years without any reciprocation of his love. It was not until he died that she understood how much he loved her. This raises the great question: How much of my love – for Jesus and for other people – is based on how much I get out of the relationship? Agape love is hard because it does not depend on my being affirmed or loved in return.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: To love without any requirement of reciprocation or return is evidence of true agape love.
[end]
Have an agape day. Love you (with agape love).
II Corinthians 12:15
"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."
This is pure agape love – to spend and be spent regardless of whether I am loved back. Paul's love for the Corinthians was not based on requited love. Jesus set the pattern. I believe Jesus would have given His life as an atoning sacrifice whether or not anyone would have loved Him back because of His great love for His creation. I heard a story recently of a man who loved a woman but she did not return his love. He wooed her faithfully for 30 years without any reciprocation of his love. It was not until he died that she understood how much he loved her. This raises the great question: How much of my love – for Jesus and for other people – is based on how much I get out of the relationship? Agape love is hard because it does not depend on my being affirmed or loved in return.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: To love without any requirement of reciprocation or return is evidence of true agape love.
[end]
Have an agape day. Love you (with agape love).
No comments:
Post a Comment