TAKE A TEMPERATURE READING ON YOUR LOVE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS, THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD, Matthew 24:12 Regardless of whether we truly are in the time of Matthew 24:12, our Christian duty is to work on perfecting Gods love in our lives. The word translated love is the well-known Greek word agape. Agape is the love that people have only because God has given it to them (Romans 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 2:5; 4:7-8). The people whose agape love is growing cold are the Christians. So the love of many growing cold refers to those whom God has called into a relationship with Him (John 6:44). Agape love is manifested first toward God, because it is a dutiful, submissive, obedient love, one that does what is right regardless of how a person feels about it. In other words, agape love has a moral core rather than an emotional one. The Bible teaches us that we show agape love to the Father through our obedience and submission, especially to His law (John 14:15-23; 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 5:2-3; 1 John 6). We show agape love to each other through sacrifice, just as Jesus example of love—to those around Him and to us—was through sacrifice (John 13:34; 15:12-13; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 5:2, 25; I John 3:16, 18; 4:9-12). Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:35). The word that is translated to love is AGAPE: which means active devotion to the welfare and happiness of the one who is loved. This is the love, that GIVES without calculating COST or REWARD, and looks only to God for recognition. The kind of love that seeks the others highest good. The meaning of Matthew 24:12 is that agape love will grow cold because of wickedness. Wickedness is lawlessness. Lawlessness is disobedience. Love for our brothers and sisters grows cold because of our disobedience. Cold will become our brotherly love, kindness, and human affection. Remember, we show agape love to God through obedience—the opposite of lawlessness—so when disobedience increases, agape grows cold. In this prophecy, Jesus Christ is describing an ongoing breakdown in the relationship with God. Since that most important relationship is the source of agape love, if it is waning, decreasing, then it will be evident in other relationships. A symptom may be that sacrificial love toward other people is decreasing, but the real cause is that the relationship with God is cooling off. I encourage you all to fan the flames of love by reading and studying your Bible. Fight the good fight of faith and stand firm. Stand firm in your faith. Stand firm in your obedience to the LORD. Stand firm in your agape love for your sisters and brothers in Christ. Jesus promised the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:58:16 +0000
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