We were at the table last night watching our son. Over the past year he got massive. As in better not arm wrestle him anymore.

How did that happen? Well, he went to college, lifted weights all year, and got strong. That’s how life works. You lift, study, train, practice, or whatever, and develop strength.

Let’s say we wanted our students to grow strong in . . . love. What could you do every day for a year to help them develop robust love?

Here’s a definition of love drawn from the Greek term agape. Can you think of ways to do “agape lifting” with your students so they get massive in love?

Agape Love

Love can be known only from the actions it prompts.

God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son. This is not the love of complacency (easy to give), or affection (motivated by attraction). It is not drawn out by any merit in its object. Rather, it is an exercise of the will in deliberate choice, made without cause save that which lies in the nature of God. God is good, and He loves because that is what is good.

Agape love is not an impulse from feelings, it doesn’t follow natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some attraction or relationship is discovered.

Agape love seeks the welfare of all and works ill to no one. It seeks opportunity to do good to all, and especially toward fellow Believers. Agape love focuses on God (we do all for Him), and expresses itself in obedience to His commands.

Self-will or self-serving is the opposite of agape love.

Imagine watching a group of students this time next year and thinking, “Wow — they got massive . . . in love.”