Hebrews 10:17 (NKJV) then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
There will be many opportunities for us to have differences whenever we live or work together as a family or community. There are different ways of doing things and everyone has different thoughts and methods. There will be occasions when we might have said the wrong thing or done things differently. How we reach out to make reconciliation and work out the differences will be very much dependent on the act of agape love. Agape love is not irritable and touchy, rough or hostile but graceful under pressure. It does not keep an account of wrong. It erases resentments. God remembers our sins no more therefore do not bring up the past and use it as a weapon or ammunition to attack. In fact, when we repeat a matter the wound will never heal and ultimately it will rot and the relationship will break! When we do not repeat a matter then it will allow the wound and the relationship to heal.
Corinthians13: 5 (Amplified) It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; love does not consider a wrong endured.
How does Agape love look like when we serve and worship together? In a church setting, there is a time and season for different ministries. God will instruct and show the Senior Pastor what is to be done in view of the mandate given to the local church. Therefore old ministries will close and new ministries will open.
Many people will refuse to change or move into the new ministry. Neither do we like to be told what to do. We demand our rights and privileges. Sometimes, we refuse to submit but rather choose to continue to operate privately or even leave the church. We might even speak negatively of the new ministry despite all knowledge that we have acquired from our studies. It is divisive no matter how valid the reason is.
But if we allow Agape love to flow within us then we will be able to establish a good working relationship with the new ministry head since God is directing us into a new season of ministry. It is a love of choice even when we don’t feel like it. We want to see the highest good of the new ministry head regardless whether we respect the person or not. That’s walking in Agape love. That’s Spiritual maturity.
Agape love is to see the highest good of the person whom we are to love. We would want them to succeed. We want them to feel our acceptance. We love them regardless of their worth. Agape love will also cause us to pursue the restoration of a relationship even though we might not be the best of friends after our differences. We want to love by choice because He first loved us.
Sermon Series – How to Love (Part 4)
在爱中同工
希伯来书 10:17以后就说：我不再记念他们的罪愆和他们的过犯。
当我们作为一个家庭或社群一起生活或工作时，就有许多产生差异的机会。人们各有各的行事方式，各有各的想法和方法。我们有时会说错话或者做事另辟蹊径。我们如何和解并解决分歧，这在很大程度上取决于无条件的 (Agape)爱的行为。无条件的 (Agape)爱是不急躁易怒、不粗暴、不对立，而是在压力之下依旧满有恩慈。它不计算人的恶。它抹去怨恨。神不再纪念我们的罪，所以不要翻旧账，用它来当作攻击的武器或弹药。事实上，当我们一再旧事重提，伤口就永远不会愈合，最终腐烂，并且关系会破裂! 当我们不翻旧账，那么就能让伤口愈合，关系修复。
哥林多前书 13:5不做害羞的事，不求自己的益处，不轻易发怒（不过于敏感或容易生气），不计算人的恶。
当我们一起事奉和敬拜时，爱是如何表现的? 在教会里，不同的事工都有它的时间和季节。神会指示和告诉主任牧师，根据赋予地方教会的使命应该做些什么。于是旧的事工会关闭而新的事工会开启。
许多人会拒绝改变，也不愿转入新的事工。 我们也不喜欢别人告诉我们该做什么。我们要求我们的权利和特权。有时，我们拒绝顺服，选择继续私下操作，甚至离开教会。 我们甚至可能会负面地评价新事工，即使我们已经从研读神话语中获得了所有的知识。 无论理由多么正当，它都会引起分裂。
但如果我们允许无条件的 (Agape)爱从我们身上流出,那么我们就能够与新事工的负责人建立良好的工作关系，因为神正引导我们进入一个新的事工季节。这是主动选择的爱，即使我们觉得自己并不喜欢。无论我们是否尊敬新事工的负责人，我们都要看到对方的最大的优点。这就是行在无条件的 (Agape)爱 中。这是成熟的灵命。
无条件的(Agape)爱是寻求我们施爱之人的最高利益。我们希望他们成功。 我们希望他们感受到我们的接纳。不论他们配不配，我们都爱他们。无条件的(Agape)爱也会驱使我们努力去修复关系，即使我们在分歧之后可能不再是最好的朋友。 我们要主动选择去爱，因为神先爱了我们。
讲章系列：如何去爱 （第四部分）
Image Source: pixabay.com