OPEN PRAYER
A G A P E : Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure.
Agape love is sometimes referred to in modern times as universal love, charity, or even altruism. Essentially, it’s the love inside us that we give freely to others—regardless of our relationship to them. Agape love is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.
Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/agape-love-in-the-bible-700675
Source for 4 kinds of love: https://www.learnreligions.com/types-of-love-in-the-bible-700177
Why does God Love Us?
Because God’s Love has no limit
Who wants love that sets conditions? “If you hurt my feelings, I'll stop loving you.” “If you don’t quit that habit I don’t like, I'll stop loving you.” “If you break any of these rules I set, I'll stop loving you.”
Many people have a wrong idea about God's love for them. They think it's based on their performance. If it were, not a single human being would qualify.
Because God's love is based on grace, a free gift for you
And Jesus Christ had to pay terrible price. When Jesus voluntarily sacrificed himself on the cross to pay for your sins, you became acceptable to his Father through Jesus's merit, not your own. Jesus's acceptance by God will transfer to you if you believe in him.
The Bible Says
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." – John 3:16–17
That means for Christians, there are no “ifs” when it comes to God's love. Let's be clear, though. We don't have a license to go out and sin as much as we want. As a loving Father, God will discipline (correct) us. Sin still has consequences. But once you accept Christ, you have God's love, his unconditional love, for eternity.
When you're trying to find love, you'll have to agree you won't get that kind of devotion from another human being. Our love has limits. God's does not.
Because God Made Us
He knows exactly what you need. You may think you know yourself, but only he knows best. In heaven, we will learn that God always made the right decision for each of us based on love, no matter how painful or disappointing it seemed at the time.
No other person can ever know you as God does. That's why no other person can love you as he can.
The Bible Says
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10
Because God’s Love is Sustaining
Love can see you through hard times, and that's what the Holy Spirit does. He lives in each believer. The Holy Spirit is our personal, intimate connection to Jesus Christ and God the Father. When we need supernatural assistance, he takes our prayers to God then provides us with guidance and strength.
The Holy Spirit has been called the Helper, Comforter, and Counselor. He is all those things and more, displaying God's power through us if we surrender to him.
The Bible Says
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other." – John 15:9–17
The Bible Says
"God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways." – Galatians 5:22–23
When trouble hits, you don't want a long-distance love. You may not be able to feel the Holy Spirit's presence within you, but your feelings are not reliable when it comes to God. You have to go by what the Bible tells to be true.
God's love for you lasts through eternity, giving you endurance for your journey here on earth and complete fulfillment in heaven.
Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/find-love-that-changes-everything-701012
HOW TO LOVE GOD?
• Be grateful and thankful for everything, bad or good.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Be thankful to God that he gave his son to forgive our sins. – Psalm 136:1–3
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. – Romans 10:17
Be thankful to God that he gave his son to forgive our sins. – Psalm 136:1–3
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. – Romans 10:17
• Learn about him through the Bible. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• Sing praises
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. – Psalm 40:3
• Spread the word about him so more people will know of him
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. – Deuteronomy 6:5
• Obedience to his commands and his guidance.
"But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him." – 1 John 2:5
• Love him with all your might, strength, heart and soul
And Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." – Luke 10:27
• Love his people Humans and his creations.
"We love each other because he loved us first." – 1 John 4:19
Round Table Discussion
Q: How have you experienced God’s love? If so, how so?
Q: How do we love God back?
Action item for the week
When you wake up every morning, think of one wonderful simple thing that God has done for you or or be grateful for what you have.
Continue to mingle with each other and pray for each other.
CLOSE PRAYER
Q: How do we love God back?
Action item for the week
When you wake up every morning, think of one wonderful simple thing that God has done for you or or be grateful for what you have.
Continue to mingle with each other and pray for each other.
CLOSE PRAYER
