Sermon By Thulane: The Cost of Agape Love
Beloved, last week we spoke about Agape Love in action. However, tonight, I want us to reflect on the cost of Agape Love. By the way of introduction let us turn our hearts and minds to the book of 2 Corinthians 6:4-7.
“As servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love.”
In essence, Agape Love requires us to be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times so that we may produce the fruits of the Spirit, which the Apostle Paul has mentioned: patience, kindness, and genuine love. Beloved, if we can master these three of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit will give us strength in our inner person to endure afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger. These trials represent the true cost of following Christ. The Bible does not promise us smooth sailing life simply because we are followers of Christ and we profess our faith and love for Him . Instead, these challenges strengthen our faith and test the genuineness of our love for God.
Before Christ’s crucifixion, He predicted that Judas Iscariot would betray Him, as recorded in John 13:21-27. After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in His spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Later, after Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus told him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
Equally significant is the moment when Peter was told he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, as recorded in Matthew 26:69-75. Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” After another servant girl accused him, he denied it again with an oath: “I do not know the man.” Finally, after bystanders identified him, Peter invoked a curse upon himself and swore, “I do not know the man.” Immediately, the rooster crowed, and he remembered Jesus’ words: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter went out and wept bitterly.
These two scriptures bear testimony to the fact that no one is immune from being tested regarding their love for God. Both Peter and Judas, on separate occasions, failed to affirm their love for Christ. This serves as a lesson for all of us: the enemy will always contest our faith, attempting to lead us to forsake the greatness that God has blessed in us through the Holy Spirit, which bears witness to the values and principles of Christ Jesus.
Now I have a few questions for each of us: How often do we find ourselves refuting God through our ungodly conduct or actions? When will we find rest in God amid both good and bad times? Are we prepared to surrender everything for the sake of the Gospel?
Beloved, let us examine our hearts, recognizing that the pursuit of Agape Love is not without its challenges. We must be willing to endure trials and tribulations for the sake of our faith, just as our Lord and Savior endured for us. May we commit to being filled with the Holy Spirit daily, producing the fruits of love, patience, and kindness, so that we may stand firm in our love for God, no matter the cost. Amen.
Leave a comment