Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love NEVER FAILS.  (1 Cor 13:4-8a, emphasis added)  This is “agape” love.

The verse shown above tells us a lot about the nature of love.  I believe this topic is worth meditating upon.

LOVE is never:

• Envious [jealous, covetous, grudging].
• Boastful; it doesn’t brag.
• Prideful; concerned with self; defensive; or sulking.
• Rude [offensively impolite or ill-mannered].
• Easily angered, provoked or moved to rash words or unwise actions.
• Resentful, keeping a record of a person’s wrongdoings.
• Joyful concerning the vices of others.

Here is LOVE in action; love . . .

• Is longsuffering [patient, forbearing, tolerant, uncomplaining].
• Is kind [withholds whatever is harmful, but bestows whatever heals].
• Seeks the will of God rather than its own will.
• Rejoices in the truth—meaning Biblical truth.
• Bears all things, or covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet 4:8); it protects other people and their reputations.
• Believes all things—is trusting—is ready to give someone else the benefit of the doubt and to allow for extenuating circumstances.
• Hopes all things: love refuses to take failure as final, either in oneself or in someone else. Love never gives up on people. Just like God never gives up on us.
• Endures all things: The word “endures” is a military term that means to hold a position at all costs, even unto death, whatever it takes.  So love holds fast to people it loves. It perseveres. It never gives up on anyone. Love won’t stop loving, even in the face of rejection. Love takes action to shake up an intolerable situation. Love looks beyond the present to the hope of what might be in the future.

Agape love is defined as:  Unconditional love. The love that God has for EVERYONE!! The love that put Jesus up on the cross to die for all of our sins. The love that will never die. The love that is meant to be spread. The love that God desires us to have for everyone, not just for Him. 

(Definition Source:  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Agape)

Understand that God loves each and every one of us with agape love.  He would like us to love everyone else on earth with the same kind of love that He bestows upon each one of us.  So, this is definitely a subject worthy of our prolonged contemplation.  Blessings upon you.