Written by Paul J Bucknell on November, 29, 2023

2 Peter 1:7b, Ezekiel 34 Living Out Agape Love

PURSUING HIS EXCELLENCE #11 - A 2 Peter 1 Series

The term for love (Gr: agape), the last of the eight virtues listed in the 2 Peter passage, is commonly used in the context of Christian love, but not exclusively. The seventh virtue, “brotherly love” or “brotherly kindness” (Gr: philadelphia) refers to a shared obligation to care for one another in a family context.

Conversely, agape love extends beyond familial ties and entails extraordinary care and concern for others. This type of love is often called sacrificial because it shows love without expecting anything in return and is closely associated with the concept of grace. Agape love is kind and compassionate, regardless of whether the recipient deserves it.

Let’s look more at agape love by reflecting on what was expected from the shepherds in Ezekiel 34.

1. The Source of Christian Love (Ezek 34:1-5)

The definition of agape love comes from God Himself. Agape love is Christian love and is born from knowing God, Who is love (1 John 4:8). That compassion for the unlovely, the ugly, or the brokenhearted does not come from driving by the slums or watching a documentary but from knowing God Himself. Observe the Lord’s love in action in Ezekiel 34 as He reproaches the shepherds who have not properly cared for the needy.

“⁴ Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. ⁵ And they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered” (Ezekiel 34:4-5).

Why would God care for the diseased, the broken, the scattered? As the Good Shepherd, He reveals His remarkable lovingkindness. God rebuked His shepherds, who lacked His compassion, for not caring for the undesirables.

God’s loving heart differs vastly from these hired, undedicated, dominating shepherds. The Lord is other-focused and demonstrates His love through His decisions and actions, like when He sent His Son to shepherd needy sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep…” (John 10:11-12).

When God’s agape love fills the hearts of His people, they are moved to help others in various ways, including sharing the Gospel. Their actions are not driven by pride or guilt but by genuine care and concern. In many cases, love might not be readily visible, as it can manifest as sacrificial giving of one’s time, resources, and even life to spread the message of the Gospel. Despite facing hardships and challenges, this inner love stirs their efforts to care for others.

Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). God sent Him. God’s actions define love. “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Agape love doesn’t come from feelings but originates from having the heart of God. This is why love endures (1 Cor 13:7) and human emotion passes, but not God’s love. We only gain God’s love when we come to know Him. Do you have the love of God motivating your life?

2. The Focus of Christian Love (Ezek 34:4)

“Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them” (Ezek 34:4).

The character of God’s love became obvious when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for sinners.

“⁷ For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:7-8).

If God were like sinful man, there would not be any salvation. He would still be stuck watching television programs, advancing His degrees, or busy getting promotions while the lost perish. Instead, He sent His only Son to die for the needy.

Love focuses on the needy outside of oneself, a sacrificial love. Agape love’s power is seen in how it reaches beyond itself, taking $10, $100, or $1,000 out of your pocket and giving it to the neighbor with no strings attached—no interest, no nothing. Love gives up what one has so others can be helped.

Christian love focuses on those in need. Note God’s expectations in Ezekiel 34:4.

We are to strengthen the sickly.
We are to heal the diseased.
We are to bind up the broken ones.
We are to bring back the scattered ones.
We are to seek the lost.
We are to lead them gently.

Now you might question, doesn’t this only apply to pastors? “Aren’t they the shepherds?” This passage does refer to pastors. A pastor needs a shepherd’s heart to lead the lost and broken lambs to the Lord. Only He can heal them. But once you are healed and experience God’s love, He releases His love to your heart so that you will love, too. This is love.

Jesus instructed all His disciples to love one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). He expected us all to find so much comfort and care that we will bring others into His fold. We have God’s peace and love.

When we realize that caring for others is more important than pursuing our own interests, we undergo a transformation. We may live our lives, but underneath it all, we watch for those who need God’s love. If is not appropriate to call ourselves Christians, we do not love with God’s love! Simply saying, "I go to church once a week,” is not enough. We must not let ourselves be content with a loveless religion, for Satan finds a loveless church amusing.

Agape Love and Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)

3. The Opportunity for Christian Love (Is 61:1)

Lastly, I want to turn your attention to the opportunity of agape love. Isaiah says,

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1).

Genuine love transforms people and society. Wherever the gospel of love is preached, the transformation of lives occurs. We are not talking about big-budgeted programs but God’s people demonstrating God’s love.

(1) God’s love is essential in healing broken people. Meeting Jesus has transformed many lives, and we can introduce Him through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The early Christians saw thousands of people come to know the Lord, and many were changed by the miracles that happened. The argument is not over whether miracles have died out, but whether our compassion has dwindled! We should not give up on struggling people who need our support. Jesus taught us to assist those in need and allow God’s love to flow through us. When we witness God’s love breaking through, we’ll feel more at ease and trust Him with what we face. Let us help those experiencing difficulties and allow God’s love to heal them.

Jesus, in Matthew 18:12 says, “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?” And again in Mark 6:24, “And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” Lastly, in John 10:16, “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock [with] one shepherd.”

(2) Second, the Lord does not want to heal and help only one or two people but many. His love is not stingy. He has made it so that every nation should receive the gospel, every language should praise His goodness. Let’s read Ezekiel’s prophecy.

²³ “Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. ²⁴ And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken…. ²⁹ I will establish for them a renowned planting place, and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations anymore. ³⁰ Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” declares the Lord God. ³¹ “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 34:23–31)

It’s wrong to conclude that this passage only concerns some future happy land. The Chief Shepherd has come to our world. We are not after the things of the world. God’s love is pursuing us to spread His love to others. Did not God choose Abraham to be a blessing to the nations? As Abraham’s children, we are to do the same. Let us open our hearts now so that God can work powerfully so that we can shine His love to the world that so desperately needs it.

Let’s pray. Please repeat after me as much as you can say sincerely.

Lord, please forgive us for our lack of love. Forgive us for our selfishness, feeding ourselves yet ignoring those in great hunger. Forgive us for not caring for the broken-hearted, the sick, the weak, the crippled, etc. Break our hearts so that we can again know you and your love. Release your love in us that we might shine forth your great love throughout the world. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13 reveals typical crises in which love proves itself.

“Love is patient” (1 Cor 13:4)

Why does the apostle Paul say love is patient? Is it not because we know genuine love by its patience? If we get impatient, whether it be with our children, spouse, or pastor, then we are not keeping up with love’s standards. Love proves itself under challenging circumstances.

“Love is kind” (1 Cor 13:4)

We often find ourselves in situations where people need kindness. Paul isn’t thinking about the easy situations but the hard ones. We are not talking about loving, kind people—this is natural, but showing kindness to mean people is difficult. If someone purposely says something to hurt you, how will you respond? Will you be kind or be rude in return?

Love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor 13:6)

You might wonder what ‘rejoicing with the truth’ has to do with love. Love is the discipline of not accepting rumors but standing tall and bravely rebuking those who dare pass on rumors. You care too much about others to let statements go by untested.

Love “hopes all things” (1 Cor 13:7)

You might be very disappointed in how a brother or sister acts. You might even think they are non-Christians to justify your anger. You get disappointed and give up on a person. This is not love. Love goes beyond a person’s horrible behavior and turns to the fact that Christ desires them to turn to Him. You refuse to give in to the destroyer who wants to make Christians his prey. Instead, you pray for these people, hoping God’s grace helps them.

Summary

Agape love differs from brotherly love primarily from its context and source in God. Once our hearts are ignited with His love, we love.

“⁵ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, ⁶ and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, ⁷ and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; ¹¹ for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (2 Peter 1:5-10).