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Pursuing Agape Love

Really Loving Your Neighbor

Alanna Carnes
Nov 21, 2016
Messiah College
142
Pursuing Agape Love

"Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:31

After all that has happened in 2016, I feel that people need to be reminded that what we should be focusing on is loving each other for who we are, not hating the differences we see.

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:18

No matter who the person is or the beliefs that they hold, or the sports team they support, your number one priority is to truly care for that person no matter what. It does not mean that you tolerate them, saying that you 'have' to love them even though they supported Trump in the election.

When translating the bible, it can be difficult to relate the real meaning of the word. One word in English might have several different meanings in another language. There are 4 types of love in the bible, stemming from Greek words:

Agapeo: Unconditional love; the love of God
Phileo: The type of love found between friends
Eros: Being in love, or a romantic love
Storge: Love felt in a family, such as cousins, sisters, aunts, etc. (Agapeo can also be used for familial love)

Agape is a love more closely related to action rather than feeling. God did not want to give his only son to die on the cross, however he did it because he loved (agape) the world. This word for loved is used in the translation of loving (agape) your neighbor. Agape love is a commitment to live out God's will, not necessarily a feeling. When God says love your neighbor, it does not mean you always have to like them or enjoy them as a person, however you should make an effort to go out of your way to make their life better.

I would like to encourage you to love the people around you with an agape sense of love. If you are struggling with caring for someone because you feel they are just to different from you, remember a father who had such a deep love for us that he sacrificed his only son just to free us from the burden of our sins all whilst knowing our imperfections.

Referenced:

http://gods-word-first.org/fruitofspirit/biblelove...

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