Dear ones, I’m so excited for us to start diving deeper into scripture and learning more together about God’s love for us and how in turn we are to love others!
Girls, the Bible says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Let’s dive deep and ask the Lord to show us what love truly is.
Our passage for today is: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others I would be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.”
Read this verse again slowly. These are all good things. If you could do all these incredible things, but didn’t love others then they would all mean nothing. They would be completely meaningless.
This type of love that Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 13 is “agape” love. According to the Enduring Word Commentary, agape love is defined as a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It is a love so great it can be given to the unloving and unappealing. It is a love that loves even when it is rejected.
Further, agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. It gives because it loves; it does not love in order to receive. This type of love has little to do with emotion; it has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.
Girls, do you see it? This is the type of love that God has for us. “The ultimate example of God’s love for us is in Jesus Christ, who said, “I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.” (John 13:34). He agape loves us!
Being loved by Him and in turn loving others with that same love is the greatest thing we can do!
I love the lines of this song, Abide by Kingdom Culture Worship, “To be love is to be loved by you.” Girls, to love others in the way 1 Corinthians 13 instructs us to, we must first experience God’s deep love for us as His beloved daughters.
Once we know and have experienced this type of love, we will want to share this love with everyone we know, and the Holy Spirit will empower us to love others in this same way. I’m excited as we journey together to learn more about this “agape” love from 1 Corinthans 13!
Questions and Reflection
Ask the Lord to help you to know that He “agape” loves you to the core of your being.
Ask the Lord to strip away any false ideas you’ve had about His love and how He wants you to be loved by Him and in turn love others.
Ask Him to show you anything you are trying to do to earn His love.
Ask Him to prepare your heart as you learn more about His agape love for you!
Challenge: This year let’s put the Lord’s word on our hearts.
Start memorizing: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others I would be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.”