Have you lost agape?

Agape love is the greatest and rarest form of love. It’s found in the New Testament 116 times and usually means the unconditional love of God. 

I remember well my training in counseling. One theorist and counseling practitioner by the name of Carl Rogers practiced something called “unconditional positive regard.” Wow! It’s the most agape-like concept that I’ve ever seen in a secular environment. Unconditional positive regard is defined as “a concept developed by the humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers, it is the basic acceptance and support of a person regardless of what the person says or does, especially in the context of client-centered therapy.” (Wikipedia)

Do you believe God looks at you like this? I’ve often heard it said that when God sees us, He looks through the blood of Jesus and sees perfection. He looks through the sacrifice and sees friends, sons, and daughters instead of enemies. The Bible reveals this fact: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NKJV)  

It always amazes me that God loves us unconditionally, completely, and unequivocally. “‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’” (John 3:16, NIV) God is driven by love, not anger. He’s driven by agape, not bitterness. When God sees you, He sees Jesus in you. Someone once said “love is blind,” and in a way, that person is right. It’s like God sees you through rose-colored glasses of love.

The Bible says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, NIV) The love of God will forgive you and cover all of your weaknesses and sins. His love will adopt you as His own. 

I’ll never forget when my wife and I became the legal guardians of two very tall teens from Rwanda. Although we had so many struggles and obstacles in raising them, it didn’t seem to discourage us. We never quit because we fell in love with Fernand and Joseph. The love of God caused us to love them, and it’s been a true joy and pleasure. 

Whom will you love in Jesus’ name?

It’s time to love because you are a miracle.