ICS Daily Devotions
An Outflow Of Agape Love
Romans 8:2-4 (AMP) For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power].
The transformation in a born-again Christian is clearly explained in this passage where the Apostle Paul made a comparison between those living under the law and those living by the power of the Spirit. Those who rely on their own strength, or man’s nature, will fail because of the weakness of the flesh. In contrast, those who live by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit will have victory! We will allow Agape love to flow out of us, and He will empower and enable us to love others despite the resistance of the flesh. While we will need to learn to yield to Him as He speaks to us so as not to grieve Him, we will be able to love our neighbour as ourselves just as the Lord loves us.
Of course, there will be occasions when we will revert back to our old selves when the flesh gets the better of us, but over time, we should grow in godliness, especially in the aspect of loving others as we continuously yield to the Holy Spirit to walk in love, extend grace and forgiveness, and become less contentious, able to bridle our tongue and show patience.
Romans 5:5 (AMP) Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.’
God is love. As the third person of the Godhead, The Holy Spirit is full of love, and He has poured the love of God into our hearts, which will flow out to others. While our mind, intellect and the flesh may not want to love and forgive, our new creation, the nature of God and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our hearts will allow God’s kind of Agape love to flow out of the abundance of the heart. Therefore, next time someone offends or hurts us, we should learn not to react from the flesh or the mind, but to respond from the new heart which has the abundance of God’s love to flow out to the other person.
Sermon Series: How to love?
