But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23
Agape: selfless sacrificial affection
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
In 1 Corinthians 13, what are some of the characteristics of agape love that you think are easier to live out? Which ones do you wish were not on the list?
What are the things in your life currently that are robbing your affections for Jesus? What are the things that are stirring your affections for Jesus?
Are there rhythm’s in your life that might need to change to create space to love God or love others in your daily life?
Do you find it more difficult to love other Christians or love the lost? What is it that makes this more or less difficult?
Challenge: make a list of people in your area of influence that you would love to see come to know the agape love of Jesus, talk about these people and pray for them.
