We made it through V.5 this morning, examining the next 4 ingredients or traits of Agape / unconditional love.
Agape love:Is not rude — does not behave itself unseemly. Does not grasp for its own rights — seeketh not her own.Does not become irritated — is not easily provoked.Does not keep a record of wrongs — thinketh no evil.
Agape / unconditional love is a supernatural experience of love bestowed upon all of us through God’s saving grace in our lives. We love him because he first loved us. We can love each other regardless of circumstances, because the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so!Psalm 103:8-14 reveals God’s position concerning sin and forgiveness.
Psalm 103:8-14: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
God has cast our sins as far as the east is from the west, and will remember them no more! What an awesome promise that can be claimed in any dispensation. He remembers that we are dust. Understanding that simple doctrinal truth from Genesis 3:14 & 19 helps us in our daily battle with our adversary, the Devil.
1. God cursed the serpent in Genesis 3:14 — And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
2. The serpent — the Devil was cursed to eat “dust” all the days of his life. 1 Peter 5:8 describes him as a roaring lion — Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
3. Man is dust! Genesis 3:19 reminds us that we are all dust — In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
We must remember who we are naturally– children of Adam, and what we are spiritually — born again children of God, and Satan wants to use our own humanity against us. Our “old man”, our flesh is bent on self-destruction through the lust of the flesh – the desire to feel / passion, the lust of the eye – the desire to acquire / possessions, and the pride of life – the desire to be elevated / power. Satan is constantly seeking to devour the dust of mankind.