Agape Love

It is that time of year when we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST. I am reminded of His great love He poured out for all the peoples of the world (Joshua 4:24).

He poured out His heart for all mankind, every creation, every language, and the world. God has always had a plan to redeem His children throughout all the generations, to bring us home with Him and to help us through our trials and attacks from the enemy.

As I have been lead in my studies by the Holy Spirit, I have been reading about the Tabernacle of Praise. As you may know, nothing God does is done without great importance. The Tabernacle of Praise was built by specific instructions from God for the Israelites as a portable sanctuary and dwelling place to serve as a place of worship and to offer sacrifices for their sins. It served as a tangible reminder of God’s desire to be present with His people and a way for them to connect with Him throughout their journey to the promised land. The Holy of Holies was the most secret place where God could be accessed. But only Aaron and his sons as the High Priests could enter into the Holy of Holies to make sacrifices for the sins of the Israelites upon the Mercy seat on the Ark of the Testimony in the Holy of Holies.

A veil with specific measurements and designs was hung between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (Exodus 27:31). This veil represented the separation between God and humanity due to sin. Humanity was considered unworthy.

With the death of Jesus on the cross as the pure sacrificial lamb of God and the blood that He spilled, this veil was torn in two. He was the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of the people of the world.

The veil was torn in two from the top to the bottom. When the veil was torn at Jesus’s death, a new covenant was established. All people that believed in Jesus Christ were and are saved, not just the Israelites. That veil of separation was torn. Humanity was and is no longer separated from the Father. With the tearing of the veil we are able to dwell in the presence of God and commune with Him anytime and anywhere. We are invited into the throne room and given a seat together with Jesus at the Father’s right hand in the Heavenlies. I can envision this veil floating down from the heavens and falling over each child of God as the covering of love over His bride. He wraps us in His love. The veil covers us so we can walk in His presence as His righteous family. We can walk in His promises and new commandments of love. When we walk under this covering of His veil, the veil of the Godhead, we walk in His selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial love. Agape love.

Galatians 5:22 & 23 in the Passion Translation says, “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine Love in all its varied expressions:

Joy that overflows

Peace that subdues

Patience that endures

Kindness in action

A life full of virtue

Faith that prevails

Gentleness of heart

Strength of Spirit

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless."

It is important for us to walk in this kind of love in these last days, so we can be a witness for others about Jesus and how to follow His teachings. Share the good news. It is time to harvest what has been planted.

Galatians 6:7-10 in the Passion Translation says, “God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!”

Jesus has given us all the power and authority we need to help us walk in his love.

Isaiah 61:1-3 in the NIV says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

I have a paper taped to my bedroom mirror that says “Are you walking in Love today?” It is a reminder for me every morning when I see it to walk in love towards others. Are you walking in love? Are you planting seeds? Do others see the fruit of the spirit in you? There is a corrupt world out there that needs to see God’s love more than ever before.

Shalom!