How do you know you love someone?

I have been so convicted lately in the way I'm trying to show love. I have been doing the Beth Moore Bible Study at church that is called "Living beyond yourself" and it has changed my thinking in so many areas. One of our recent lessons was about agape love. After studying this, I have come to realize that I am falling way short of what it truly means to love. I definitely try and do it on my own strength. It is absolutely impossible to agape love someone without the Holy Spirit! Some of the areas I struggle more with, but I thought I would share all the thoughts about it that were written in the study. These are not my words, but the words inspired by the Holy Spirit through Beth Moore.

1. Agape is PATIENT- The Greek meaning is " a person who is able to avenge himself yet refrains from doing so". Live peaceably with everyone. Overcome evil with good.

2. Agape is KIND- it means to volunteer to help. Make yourself useful to others.

3. Agape does NOT ENVY

4. Agape does NOT BOAST- We should only boast in the Lord and sometimes God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. (I Cor. 1: 27-29)

5. Agape is NOT PROUD- Go to Obadiah 3- It says that pride will bring you down.

6. Agape is NOT RUDE- The Greek meaning is "to behave in an ugly, indecent, unseemly or unbecoming manner." When the Holy Spirit is at work in us, He bears a keen sensitivity toward that which is indecent.

7. Agape is NOT SELF-SEEKING- Agape seeks the highest and best for one another.

8. Agape is NOT EASILY-ANGERED- Much of what angers us is a result of how we perceive we are personally affected by a situation. (okay, admit I really struggle with this one, since having 2 small kids!) Psalm 145:8 says that God is slow to anger and rich in love.

9. Apape KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS- Psalm 103:10-14- God gives us grace despite what our sins deserve. God forgives and forgets what we have done wrong. We do have to have a heart of repentance too.

10. Agape does not DELIGHT IN EVIL BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH- This can bring complete freedom and gladness!

11. Agape ALWAYS PROTECTS- The Greek meaning is "to c0ver over in silence". Love does not expose the fault in others.

12. Agape ALWAYS TRUSTS- Having faith in someone.

13. Agape ALWAYS HOPES- To hope in someone is to expect the best from them.

14. Agape ALWAYS PERSEVERES- means to hang in there and not get discouraged.

15. Agape NEVER FAILS- Agape is never without effect and it is never in vain!


Wow, I think I will be working on these characteristics until I die! We are incapable of agape. It is divine love given by the heart of God. It's one thing for me to know the definition of agape, but now I need to put it into action. It is obedience to God's commands and asking him to help me have agape. Isn't it amazing as you read the thoughts about each thing, that God has the perfect agape love for us. And I never fully experience it because my sin nature gets in the way ALL THE TIME! I am excited to start working on all of these things with the Lord's help. It is so freeing to know that I don't need to do it by myself and that I CAN'T!