A Love Story - part 1

Feb 11

Today is the Super Bowl. You know the one. Where everyone is making bets on whether or not Taylor Swift will make it back from tour to see the game. Lol. Yes. That one. But today is also Sunday and at my church, we are in the middle of a series called Rooted in Love. It has been awesome so far. Like amazing.

And the songs that we have been singing have brought me to tears, multiple times. Lyrics like “Oh I can see the love in your eyes”, speaking of how Jesus looks at us. Music does that. You know, bring us to tears. Love does that too. Sometimes good tears of joy will flow when you experience love. Sometimes sad tears of hurt, despair, or pain will rack the body and mind when you experience love. Love. A truly powerful thing, which brings me to today.

At church, we are going through a series, Rooted in Love, and this series is covering God’s Love. C.S. Lewis wrote about Four Loves. All are important. All are different. All are powerful.

These are the four:

Agape - a self-sacrificing love

Eros - physical love

Storge - supportive love

Phileo - brotherly love

Four loves. All are important. All are powerful. And all are God’s love. Join me in a look at Rooted in Love.

AGAPE

Agape - a love that puts others first. I am actually pretty familiar with this one. I have studied it a bit over the years and I really like this one. Agape absolutely mirrored my mom. She is, and always will be to me, the greatest example of Agape outside of Christ. Anyone who ever had the privilege of meeting her felt loved by her, even if you had just met her. She exuded Agape Love to everyone around her. It was such a joy to be her daughter. To the day that Jesus took her home, she was agape love to those around her. When she arrived in heaven, I know the angels rejoiced and the Lord said, “Hallelujah, you’re home.”

Agape - a love that puts others first. It’s so counterintuitive to our culture, don’t you think? Our culture today promotes doing whatever it takes to get ahead. It says do what makes you happy. Be the man or be the woman and go get what you deserve, even if you have to hurt others along the way. The total opposite of Agape. In our culture today, we put ourselves first. We are applauded for putting ourselves first. And, if we are honest, we all are guilty of that at times. You know. Putting ourselves first. So, what if we did this? What if we made a conscious effort to put others first? Like - we go rogue against culture and love like Jesus. You know, show Agape. A love that puts others first.

Greg and I are watching The Chosen. The Chosen is a series that shows the life of Christ and his ministry. We had seen Season One years ago when it first came out. I loved it! Then, for whatever reason, we did not watch the rest until now. If you have not seen The Chosen, watch it. It’s very moving and very powerful.

In one scene in the show, the apostles are gathered around a fire, camping out and telling stories. They are resting. They are warm. In all capacities, probably pretty comfy, even though they are arguing.

In the distance, footsteps. Jesus. He is walking back to camp by himself. You can tell by his stride and body language that he is utterly exhausted. He says goodnight to everyone and then begins to go to his tent. Mary, his mother, is watching her son. She jumps to her feet and goes to help him. Agape. A love that puts other first. She helps clean his feet, his hands, his face. He simply has no strength left from the day. A day spent ministering others. Loving others. Sacrificing for others. Agape. A love that puts others first. It really is a powerful scene.

Perhaps you have memories of Agape in your life. I know I do. Many. And actually, Nigel, who shared the sermon on Agape last week, told the story of his grandparents. It’s the story of agape from a grandfather to a grandson. A story of unconditional, self-sacrificing love that changed a young man’s life forever. Forever. If you are lucky enough to have known Agape in your life, rejoice. It is a rare and beautiful gift.

Agape - a love that puts others first. That’s Jesus. That’s God. When we were yet sinners, God loved us anyway. We didn’t deserve that love. We actually didn’t deserve it at all, but God is love. Pure Love. Pure love poured out for us and recklessly bestowed upon us at every hour, every minute. It’s so overwhelming to think about. God’s love. It’s so powerful. So life changing. So life giving. He just loves to give good gifts to us and the greatest of these is love.

When asked one time what the greatest commandment is, Jesus answered it like this:
Jesus replied: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

Love your neighbor as yourself. Agape - a love that puts others first.

So, what do we do? How do we love others first? We pray and we pray fervently. We ask God to help us love others like Jesus. I know it’s hard, like it's really hard sometimes. But if we learn to show Agape love - a love that puts others first, we will not only bless those around us, but we will bless ourselves even more. And the heavens will rejoice.

So, my challenge to you and to me. Go love others - this week - like Jesus. Put their needs first. {Put them first. Perhaps it’s with a spouse, a child, a friend. Show them the love that Jesus shows us every day, even when we don’t deserve it. An others first kind of love. Let’s do it, friends. And like when my sweet mama arrived home, the Lord will say, “Hallelujah”!

Agape - a love that puts other first. And Next up - Eros - the beautiful, God created, God honored physical love. It’s going to be a good one. <3

Til next time - Nikki

Broken Vessels - by Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz9xKtRhpjc

Lyrics:

Oh, I can see You now

Oh, I can see the love in Your eyes

Laying Yourself down

Raising up the broken to life

The Four Loves - C.S. Lewis

https://www.cslewis.com/four-types-of-love/

The Chosen - A Mother’s Love to a Son - The Son’s Love to All