Daniel 3:5-6 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 4:33  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Consider the extraordinary encounter that Nebuchadnezzar had with our Sovereign God. He was made to act and eat as an ox. Physical changes as well as his mental state were evident.

Galatians 6:7 a Be not deceived; God is not mocked:

But rather than destroy old Nezzar God used him to glorify Himself. I cannot help but thank God that He showed Himself strong in me, rather than taking me out of this life. While you might want to defend me, that I was not doing as Nebuchadnezzar, in fact I did. I set up worship of another besides the God of Heaven, myself.

God made Himself known unto me in a sovereign moment, although not so drastic as being forced to act like an ox. Yet He made himself clear. “I am God and I can do with you as I will.” That was a sobering moment. Does it happen to everyone? I hope not. I was arrogant, proud and stubborn beyond reason. So God had to take drastic measures with me. I was humbled.

Does God have to go thru such drastic actions to get your attention? Or will you be reasonable?

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

 Reciprocating means to move forward and then back in a straight line. Paul’s implication here is that the love that he has shared is not returned. That in a worldly sense seems negative and contrary to the purpose of love, that it is a thing shared between two people to the mutual benefit of both. If you look at love as anything except Agape love, this would be true.

V16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

Here once again, Paul speaks to the only nature of love the Corinthians had known up until this time. The issue here once again is not that the Agape Love acts as the world knows it but that by being poured out, it acted in the manner of its own true nature, to be poured out itself afresh on someone new.

Agape Love is not a reciprocating force, it does not return to its originator by moving backward. Agape Love is ever being poured out to a place it has never been before. Paul in referring to being caught with guile is speaking to the positive results that rather than wasting Agape Love on the one who showed it, turned and passed it on to those who had not yet received it.

How can you love God? How can you love Jesus Christ?

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Agape Love is always moving forward, never looking back.