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Word4Today Daily Bible Devotional

by Bob and Debby Gass

Agape

‘Through love serve one another.’ Galatians 5:13 NKJ

Jesus said something incredible: His disciples would be recognised by their love for each other (John 13:34–35). And He used a special Greek word for love: agape. This distinguishes it from other kinds of love. Agape’s a love that serves, even it isn’t served. A love that gives before it receives. A love that forgives before it is forgiven. It’s a lavish love that goes beyond the love of a parent for a child, beyond the affection of one friend for another, beyond the attraction of a starry–eyed bridal couple. It’s the wildly–outrageous love that comes from God and enables people to overcome their selfish self–centred me–focus and instead give themselves in sacrificial service to strangers. It’s the kind of love that took Jesus to the cross for our sins. It’s the kind of love that enables us to follow Jesus’ command to do good to our enemies, bless those who hate us and pray for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44) That way, Jesus goes on to say, ‘you will be acting as true children of your Father in Heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.’ (Matthew 5:45–48 NLT) What can you do today that shows agape?

SoulFood: Jer 10-13; Luke 22:1-23; Ps 69:1-18; Pro 8:27-29

word4U2day (an adaptation of The Word for Today authored by Bob & Debby Gass) is published under licence by UCB Australia. 2015 UCB International Ltd

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