You ever have one of those moments where someone is real honest with you in a good way and it’s like God puts a big flashy sign over their head that says:
!INSERT MY TRUTH HERE!
Well I had one of those moments the other day! I was at the store buying some soda and such and I came across this picture frame that had one of my favorite bible verses on it.
“4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails...”
So I thought I wanna get that and hang it up. I love it when God takes something little and does something huge with it! I got to the register and realized I didn’t really need everything and so I put the frame off to the side. The cashier told me my total, and then looked over and thought she missed the frame as part of my order. Before I could tell her it wasn’t, she took the frame, and read the verse. Her facial expression shifted and then she looked at me and said something I’ll never forget:
“I have to admit, that is one of the most beautiful verses I’ve ever heard…” Then her face went from a big smile, to a very troubled looked and she finished her thought with, “But it’s not true.”
My heart broke for her… A few moments later I found that her view of love was much different than the one that is described in the verse. Her view of love is the love that is generated from person to person. You know, how you love your friends. The Greek term for that is Philo. This is not the Greek term that is used here in this verse though. The Greek term used in this verse is Agape. This is an all consuming, unconditional love. The love that is there and never ends. The love I described in my previous blog “Neither Height Nor Depth.”
I looked at this cashier and explained to her that her statement is half true. The puzzled look on her face allowed me to continue letting her know that when we rely on only the love of people, of course love will eventually fail. However, the AGAPE love of Jesus Christ does not and won’t ever fail! I told her that when you love someone and your love is generated by Christ himself, that is a love that never fails!
The problem with most people is that we are too afraid to love others like Christ loves us! Let us remember:
"18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 JOHN 4:18
It’s love that is generated by full surrender that Never fails.
NEWS FLASH: If you are not FULLY SURRENDERED to Christ, you have no ability to AGAPE another human being!
It’s the sacrificial love of the cross that changes the hearts of men and women. It’s that love that rose him from the dead. It’s that love that we as believer are called to show #1 to God, #2 to Our Brother and Sisters in the Lord, and #3 to the Deceived and the LOST.
Beloved, I pray that we can take the way we love one another and other a step deeper today! Secondly, to all the readers today that have been hurt by someone who is an acclaimed Christian, I want to apologize on behalf of the Living Body of Christ himself and ask for forgiveness!
I love you all and remember:
AGAPE Never Fails
Good Word man <3
ReplyDeleteBryan, this is amazing. Thank you for posting this. God has been using you in my life as well as using you THROUGH this blog to get at my heart and to really work in my life. I praise the Lord for you and this blog.
ReplyDeleteDude, this is incredible. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure she will never forget what you said to her that day. I pray for her.
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