Selfless Love
3 Main Types
As we begin the month of love, we wanted to look at how the bible tells us to live out how we should love! There are 3 main types of love mentioned in the bible, one is Agape love, another is Phileo, and finally Eros. We are starting a month long series on how to love your spouse biblically. Selfless love or Agape love is our first love language.
Agape Love
Agape love is found in the bible and represents a love that lays down oneself for another. It means to put others first in a way that is sacrificial. Jesus is our example of Agape love to the fullest extent. It’s a love that gives with expecting nothing in return. Agape love is the ultimate goal of a good marriage.
Agape Towards God
God asks us to agape Him. His desire is that we will lay down our will. He asks us not just for a portion of our lives, but for our whole life. Agape love is obeying His word and following fully His commands in every part of our lives. Today we have a society that exemplifies a half hearted love. God is looking for a radical love.
Radical Love
Radical in the dictionary when referring to a noun, is a person who holds or follows strong convictions or extreme forms of religious fundamentalism. (Dictionary.com) Radical. Extreme. Most shy away from words like these. But when you look at Jesus in the bible wasn’t He and His followers a little radical and extreme? They, like other greats in the bible, followed the law and the voice of God, (the Spirit) wherever He lead, and whatever He said.
Is That For Today
The word of God will stand forever, it is alive, and powerful! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so who are we to change or dumb down the bible. We need an awaking of radical and extreme lovers of God, those who will Agape God! It is a great adventure to follow God with a Holy pursuit! To love God unabandonded! To follow His word, to know Him intimately, to spend time with Him in that secret place, so we can live a life full of love for others.
Love For Others
So how do I agape(love) my spouse. You do it by looking for ways to please them, to know them, to be intimate with them. When you spend time with God learning to be selfless in His presence, that Agape love will just flow down from there. Loving your spouse selflessly looks like finding ways to serve, cherish, and pursue them with the greatest love.
The Greatest Love
When you think about the greatest love, it’s not Whitney Houston’s rendition of her song. It’s not to love yourself, but to put yourself last to love the one you can’t live without! Your spouse is the next in order of where you place your time, efforts, and affection. Your children come after that. You need to make sure your priorities are in line with God’s word. Laying down our life, wants, and needs to see that our spouses are fulfilled. This is for both husband and wife.
Prayer
Our prayer for you this month is to love your spouse with a radical love! To start with following God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and body. Giving this to your spouse as well! When you get married you chose to give all of the above. Don’t withhold any part of what you promised before God on your wedding day! Look for ways to show your spouse a Selfless love, and Agape love!!
Scriptures
Monday: Ephesians 2:4 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,” Praying today for His Agape love in us, a selfless love full of mercy!
Tuesday: John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That our hearts be like Jesus and that we give of our lives like Christ did for us.
Wednesday: John 14:21 says, “He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” Praying today we have an Agape love for God and follow with all our hearts.
Thursday: John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” Pray today for an ear to hear what Gods Spirit says and be led by Him.
Friday: Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Gods word is still for today and when we abide in Him He will abide in us. We will see God do great things in like the bible days!
Saturday: John 13:35 says, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Pray you love your spouse like Jesus loves us with an Agape love, a selfless love.
Sunday: Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” When you are filled with the Holy Ghost and grow in God you will start to see the fruit of the Spirit evident in your life! Agape love will shine through.
Contact
Please feel free to contact us at janene@happilyevermarried.org and share and read more blog posts at http://happilyevermarried.org
Thank you for investing in your marriage and know you too can have a happily ever married!!