Post Agape's Leaders' Retreat 2012

It's been a week since leaders' retreat and this has been on my mind for the past week but there was just no time to journal it down...

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 

- 1 Cor 1:13 (NIV)

Ultimately it all boils down to

LOVE

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." 

- 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

I was reminded of one of my previous cell leader who shared with me how his favourite passage is 1 Cor 13, as the entire passage speaks of love, what love is about, the attributes of love, the awesomeness of love. Then, I just nodded my head, not fully understanding the capacity of it.
That's easily more than 5 years back, but suddenly it all clicked.

Truly indeed, if we love one another, we will keep no records of wrong, we will forgive & forget, we will not be self-seeking, thus we will be humble and place other pple's interest above our own.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

- John 13:34-35

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.

- Mark 12:30-31

There's no condition to the love God commands us to give to one another. He didn't say because so and so is very lovely, kind-hearted, you gotta love him/her.
He wants us to extend the very same unconditional love we receive from him to the rest around us, whether they are lovable or not, whether we think they deserve it or not, because "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." - 1 Cor 13:4

Only then, can we distinct Christians from the rest of the world!

It is only in LOVE that we can embrace the differences from our generation to our father's generation and the generation to come. And with LOVE comes the humble heart and teachable spirit to recognize the strengths, capabilities, experiences and many other gems in the people around us, from various generations, be it older or younger, whom we can learn so much more from... :)


Once again, I really want to thank the pastoral team at Agape for their generosity by allowing me to be a part of this great family while I'm based in Singapore, investing in my life by extending an invitation for me to join the cell leaders interns training and be part of the cell core team. It is indeed a great privilege and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to grow and share my journey with so many wonderful people whom He loves dearly.