People who care are a rarity in this modern world. The busy, complicated lives which we live crowd out our concern, our active care for others. The words spoken by our Lord in Matthew 24:12 are fulfilled by our culture that finds little time for coping with issues that do not involve themselves directly. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love (agape) of many shall wax cold." It would seem that our Savior equated such brutal busyness as abounding iniquity. Others exempt themselves from acts of compassion, saying that our mission is to preach the Gospel. They say that God will somehow make things right for those who have to suffer now, who are hungry now, or who cry for our help -- now.

The love which Jesus spoke of in the Scripture quoted above is agape love. What does agape mean? God defines agape for us in John 3:16 by saying, "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son..." A very simple definition and explanation of the word agape therefore is "the giving of oneself." Agape is an affection which stands in spite of any element, of attractiveness, desirability, or even value. It can even be hated by the object of its affection without decreasing its intensity or character. Agape is active love which does not wait to be acted upon. Unlike phileo (natural affection) or eros (sensual instinct), agape love is giving and sacrificial. It was Christ’s call to agape love which put Peter to the test in John 21:15-17. "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (agape) thou me more than these?’ He saith unto him, ‘Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love (phileo) thee’. He saith unto him again the second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (agape) thou me?’ He saith unto him, ‘Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love (phileo) thee.’ He saith unto him, ‘Feed my sheep.’ He saith unto him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (phileo) thou me?’ And he said unto him, ‘Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love (phileo) thee.’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘Feed my sheep.’" Jesus knew that agape love would be needed to fulfill the assignment of "feed my lambs, feed my sheep." He acknowledged the kind affections that Peter possessed toward him. In a sense, Peter was confessing his inability to demonstrate agape love without divine assistance. The kind affections expressed by phileo love falls short of the standard which God has demonstrated toward His children. Nor would phileo alone meet the needs of the masses that were to receive the Gospel message. Peter would soon discover that with the Master’s assignment to feed His sheep, there was also to be an infusion of agape needed to fulfill the calling.

All who read these words are recipients of God’s agape love. Had it not been for this love which reaches out to undeserving sinners, we would still be in darkness. Agape love is love that takes the initiative. Agape love is the fire which burns in the heart of all true Christians and longs for a means of expression. Rather than spending a lifetime preparing to love and intending to serve God by serving others, agape takes the plunge, accepting the risks. According to the words of Scripture, hearts shall harden, and selfishness and sin shall abound, even among professing Christians. This we cannot change, but we can follow the example of our Heavenly Father who "loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son..." We can be people who care. We can live a life that matters in God’s Kingdom by living a life of agape-- love."

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