Les Feldick Bible Study

What does agape love look like in practice?

Agape love in practice means seeking the other person's highest good in every circumstance. It is a God-given love that does not use liberty to satisfy the flesh but always seeks the other's highest good, even selling oneself short to accomplish that good.

Les explains that Peter never really got the full impact of agape love, because Peter cut back and said, "I phileo you, I am fond of you," which was a lesser term than agape. Les defines agape love as seeking that other person's highest good. In practice, that means under every circumstance we always try to seek the other person's highest good. Many times we will even sell ourselves short in order to accomplish what is the highest good for the other. So rather than use our liberty for an occasion to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, we are to let that God-given agape love—the Greek word agape—always seek the other person's highest good. Les then notes verse 14, that all the Law and all the commandments are fulfilled in one Word, and he urges comparing Scripture with Scripture, including Paul's writing in Romans chapter 13, so that it means what it says and all fits together.