Dwelling places: agape
Hello Friends! How are you?
It has been awhile since I have shared some morning reflective moments with you. I am delighted to invite you to join me in taking a closer look at the word agape and some possibilities of what that might encompass and embody with this welcoming word.
Rock Hound (part one)
About a month ago I was sharing with a friend (a dear older gentleman) about my collection of heart-shaped rocks. I learned awhile back about his own interest in discovering rocks—a kindredness of nature we discovered. I shared how I enjoy looking for rocks on walks and hikes followed by an honest disclosure that the heart-shaped rocks in my collection haven’t come from my own exploration but instead I purchase them from places like our local mineral shop. He didn’t mind and was intrigued by my liking of heart-shaped rocks as I had described my little bit of knowledge in regards to the process of rock “tumbling” whereby smoothing out the rough and rugged slightly carved heart-rocks to make the heart more distinctive and glossy—into beautiful ornaments of nature. Once purchased, I enjoy keeping a collection of various heart-shaped rocks on my desk and coffee table for the grandkids (and anyone who visits) to pick up to touch there smooth surfaces and gaze upon these colorful ornaments of nature.
A few weeks later, my rock hound friend came to church with a rough-rugged heart-shaped rock he had recently found in AZ delighted to give this to me. His thoughtfulness and kindness were to me as agape love. No expectation in return but a genuine friendship God has been kindling over a year’s time with this dear gentlemen much older than me and one I consider as an “elder”—wise, godly, and kindred in unique ways.
I share this because I believe God longs for us all to have the experience(s) of agape (unconditional love) amongst His people, truly all people. Be it brothers and sisters in Christ, or neighbors, various relationships of all ages—elders and mentors, children and adults, youth and parents, young and old, child to child. A kind of hesed-agape family, living out of grace and unconditional love.
What might that look like?
Here is a glimpse from a poem below.
He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (ESV)
First Things First
(Isaiah 54:10)
Nothing you did
caused my love to come to you.
Nothing you can do
will cause it to depart.
Forever, first things first: love, simple and unconditional.
Forever, first things first: the love I have for you
will outlast the very earth.
Even when you disbelieve it, it still burns for you.
Even when you hate yourself, it is closer than you know.
I love you now.
I love you forever.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Father, thank you, Amen.
poem by Paul J. Pastor taken from The Listening Day Vol II
Some Light (part two)
As prayer leads while listening and journaling, the questions begin unfolding: What is unconditional love? How does God define agape? How is He, Himself agape? What does He look like? What does He mean or more so how am I to live this out? How are we?
Opening the book of Ephesians earlier this month brought some light from the verses of chapters 4 and 5 describing what agape looks like and how to “imitate Christ” so that agape love is offered to and amongst one another.
More light.
Let’s begin again. What is agape? It does have emotion but it is not left to or isolated emotions yet instead as noted it is unconditional love for God and others. A mantra of my classroom when teaching years back was that of “love God. love others” for this was a reminder and desire first for me to long to grow, become, foster, nurture and gracefully begin my morning routine and carrying on throughout each day with this kind of love. And to offer this same longing to my students. My hope has been for this simple phrase to be a long command, life-giving way, a truth God gave to us, to carry me on, us and we together, and for the hope of watering the seed of agape planted in others, in my students.
Daily asking “God, “Will You flourish us by Your love first?”
In the Old Testament, the Lord told His children and gave instruction to parents in saying “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength…put My words in you…on your head (meaning in your mind), make them a part of your day… “write them on your hearts” (meaning carry them in your very body; become the very words) even on your doorposts so when you come and go from your home, they are with you.” (my own paraphrases)[Duet. 6]
The New Testament speaks of this same love like this “Abide in Me, and I in you” and “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you” [John 15]
So is this the constant, sure, steady path of agape love?
Pause.
Let us ask the Lord our God about His agape love.
Be still. Listen. Grow. Become whom He calls you.
Love Him and follow through Loving others. —Amen
Agape (unconditional love)
More discoveries to guide us in understanding and study with the following invitation: to read, listen, let God’s Word speak to and through each of us, and then walk on, carry on, and hold on to these truths.
Be encouraged.
Agape (Original Greek: ἀγάπη (agápē)
—affection, good-will, love, benevolence
John 15:9 “…Abide in the love of Me…”
John 15:13 “…greater than this love…”
2 Corinth. 5:14 “…for love of Christ…”
Romans 8:39 “…nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of…”
There are plenty more passages for agape, please continue as the Spirit leads.
Take some time to reflect and journal what you are noticing, gleaning, and encouraged to hold on to. Where are you experiencing God’s presence and care for your soul?
Ask God to guide your heart, mind, body— soul throughout your day.
