It sounds strange, in part, because it's not the way we think about things. We usually assume that love comes to us without much work or effort. Evagrius believes that agape love will be present mostly in people whose passions and desires are properly ordered.
It's something to consider, even if you're not ready to agree with him. If our desires are disordered, our love will be stunted. If we're focused on the wrong things--money, comfort, or sensuality--above all else, we will be controlled by other forces that we can't manage. Love of pleasure often leads to anger. Love of pride often leads to hostility. Love of money often leads to neglect--of our loved ones and of our soul. Lust, in all of its forms, objectifies others, believing, like a consummate consumer, that everyone exists for my own pleasure. Our malformed desires and passions will make it very difficult to love.
But for the person with an active faith in God everything changes. With faith, we start to want the right things rightly. Trusting now in God, we believe he will provide for us. We no longer have to grasp and pursue things unrighteously. We can rest and witness.
We can be peacemakers, in other words, like Abraham. In Genesis 13, Abraham did not grasp. He trusted that the Promise-maker would be a Promise-keeper. It's out of Abraham's daring faith that peace, between family members, is maintained.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me . . . by learning to want the right things rightly.
David S.
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Salvation is of The Lord. Jon 2:09
Mar 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
1Cr 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Isa 53: By his knowledge shall the righteous one my servant make many to be accounted righteous for he shall bear their iniquity.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jo 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son the propitiation for our sins.
2Cr 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Phl 4:8 Finally, bretheren,whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Lord we throw ourselves upon the Rock of your salvation crying out to you with new hearts (circumsized hearts) that you fashion in us so that we can abide in your love, mercy, and abundant life for your purpose in us to the Glory of your Holy Name forever! Amen.
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