and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25
We are able to help those on the rock to hold tight to their hope through love encouraging to be around other Christians for encouragement. We need each other to cause us to love each other. When we feel dumped on by someone it can be hard to want to love them, that is why we others to encourage us to love and forgive those that hurt them.
Love is how we build each other up. Love is the foundation of forgiveness. Not just any love but God's love. The Agape Love of God is not connected to any emotions. For emotions are as the waves of the ocean they run high and rush out taking with them some of our strength as they do. As we look at God's love, we think how on Earth am I to love like that? It is blind to any wrong that is done.
When we put the Agape filter on then can we see what looks like smooth sailing. What is the Agape filter? Philippians 2:1&2 says;
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
It is this love that encourages it grow in times of adversity. Love that reaches out to others no matter what they have done and forgives. Through Agape are we able to forgive those that have hurt us.
As we grow in Agape we also start growing in the other areas of love such as joy, peace, patience... We need to pour the love we receive into to those around us that are hurting so they can get focused on love and back to building up their love so they can share it with someone else. What is amazing about this love no matter how much we give it away we never run out.
Bonnie lives in Ft. Worth, TX, with her husband of 26 years
and 2 sons. She writes the blog More Than Just Coffee. https://2morethanjustcoffeeblog.wordpress.com/