We finished our study of the 14 traits or ingredients of Agape / unconditional love found in V.4-7: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
V.6-7 give us much to ponder concerning the difference between our new man and the impact of agape in our daily interaction responding to what others say or do, and our old man his reaction to what others may say or do. We can hate the things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19) or we can hate the things that offend us.
Philippians 4:8 reminds us of the 8 filters we are to run all thoughts of others through: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Agape is based on truth. It has genuine hope, based on the promise of God! Titus 1:2, 2:13-14: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
As we saw in Romans 5:1-5, faith, peace, grace, and hope. Tribulation works patience, and patience develops experience, and experience brings us hope. The result is hope makes us unashamed, because the Agape / unconditional love of God is shed abroad in our hearts!
Agape / unconditional love endures all things! Regardless of what you may be facing in your life, whether physical, or emotional, or financial trials, agape / unconditional love can endure it!
2 Timothy 2:1-4: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
These 14 traits of supernatural agape love are all manifested in the life of a born again child of God living a surrendered life to the authority of the Word of God, in submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit who lives in each of us.