Love...

This morning in church our pastor preached about love, it was a pretty good sermon. I wrote down a few notes on the stuff I really liked:

There are three different kinds of love---named differently for a reason.

• PHILEO love is a BECAUSE love, you love that person BECAUSE you have a deep and personal friendship with them, BECAUSE you enjoy spending time with them, BECAUSE they bring joy into your life.
• EROS love is a BECAUSE love, you love that person BECAUSE you feel that special way towards them, BECAUSE you get those butterflies in your stomach, BECAUSE you're always anticipating the next time you'll get to see them.
• AGAPE love is an EVEN THOUGH love, you're gonna love that person EVEN THOUGH they hurt you, EVEN THOUGH you don't like them, EVEN THOUGH you presently feel nothing for them, EVEN THOUGH things they do cause you pain.

Agape LOVES even though...

As a person we can do many great things in the world, share God's word, help others, give to those who are in need...but if you do not love others you gain nothing and it means nothing.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Jesus is LOVE. Replace Jesus' name with LOVE:

"JESUS is patient, JESUS is kind..."

Then replace your OWN name with love...are you loving with agape? What areas do you need to work on? Reading the traits challenges us to live with Christ's love.

I want to love sacrificially...intentionally...and unconditionally...