The Power of Easter: Agape Love, The Love that Never Fails

Happy Easter Loves! The greatest revolution in human history wasn't marked by political upheaval or technological innovation—it happened when love conquered death. Today, we're taking a sacred pause from our marriage series to reflect on the agape love that transforms every relationship season.

The cross wasn't about religious obligation—it was about unconditional agape love in its purest form. Romans 5:8 reminds us that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He didn't wait for us to get it together; He loved us exactly where we were: messy, broken, and unfinished. This foundational truth reshapes how we approach every relationship, whether single, dating, engaged, or married.

For singles, Easter proclaims you're not waiting to be loved—you're already deeply known by the One who gave everything. For those dating, it provides the ultimate relationship template—seeking someone who reflects Christ's sacrificial love rather than merely stimulating feelings. For engaged couples, it reminds us that preparation extends beyond wedding details to building a covenant foundation. And for married individuals, the cross exemplifies what true covenant means—love that chooses daily sacrifice and grace.

The empty tomb carries profound implications for our emotional worlds. Because Christ conquered death, we are liberated from carrying unnecessary burdens. Matthew 11:28-30 invites us to bring our weariness and find rest. This means hearts don't have to stay guarded or bitter—they can be soft again, healed again. The resurrection power that raised Christ offers us daily strength to forgive, to wait with joy, and to choose faith over fear.

This Easter, I encourage you to soak in this revolutionary love—not just as a beautiful concept but as the practical foundation for every relationship you build. Take time to sit with Jesus, thank Him, and celebrate the victory He's already won. The same power that conquered the grave is available to transform how you love others today. Have you experienced how Easter's message has transformed your approach to relationships? I'd love to hear your story in the comments! And be sure to join us next week as we return to our marriage series with "From I Do to Forever: How to Maintain a Strong Foundation Beyond the Honeymoon."

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Episode Transcript

Renee Richel (00:07):
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and
president of 1 True Match.
I'm here to help you find andcultivate the love of your life.
For over a decade, I'vededicated my life to the
importance, purpose and dynamicof human relationships.
My team and I are disciplinedby faith, love and integrity to
help our clients find thequality relationship they've

(00:28):
always dreamt of.
Each week, I will be sharingthe tools and tips I've learned
that have rooted my success as amatchmaker with other leaders
around the world.
Hello, loves, welcome back.
I hope you have had anincredible week.
I am excited to dive into thissubject today the power of

(00:51):
Easter agape, love, the lovethat never fails.
If you're new here, I'm sohappy you're here.
Welcome to the family.
And if you've been tuning in tous for a while, you already
know we show up here to talkabout love, relationships, faith
and the journey of living lifewith God at the center.

(01:16):
Now, if you've been keeping upwith us, you know we've been in
the powerful series of marriageand preparing our hearts for the
covenant God designed.
But today we're taking abeautiful pause because this
Sunday is Easter and I couldn'tlet this week pass without

(01:39):
creating space to reflect on themost important love story of
all time.
Whether you're single, dating,engaged or married, today's
episode is for you because everyone of us needs to be reminded
of the deep, sacrificial,world-shaking love of Christ,

(02:01):
the love that laid downeverything for us.
So take a deep breath, put theto-do list aside for a minute.
Let this be a moment betweenyou and the Lord.
Let's talk about the cross.
Let's talk about the empty tomb.
Let's talk about theunconditional detune.

(02:28):
Let's talk about theunconditional, unique kind of
love that changes everything.
Easter isn't just a story wetell once a year.
This holiday is not about goingto church on Sunday, dying
pastel colored eggs or taking apicture with the Easter Bunny.
Easter is the foundation of ourfaith.
The cross was personal.
He died for you and me.

(02:48):
Romans 5.8 says.
But God shows his love for usthat while we were still sinners
, christ died for us.
He didn't wait for us to cleanourselves up.
He didn't wait until we weremarried, healed or had it all
together.
He loved us right where we wereMessy, broken, doubting,

(03:12):
questioning, unfinished.
That is powerful and that isthe kind of unconditional, agape
love that no human relationshipcould ever match.
That kind of love doesn't askwhat do I get out of this, but
says I'll give everythingbecause you are worth it.

(03:35):
The cross wasn't about force.
It was about agape love in itspurest form, a love that pursues
you in every season.
One of the lies the enemy lovesto whisper, especially around
the holidays, is that love onlylooks like a relationship, like

(03:56):
flowers or dates orInstagram-worthy moments.
I'm here to remind you.
God's love doesn't fit into aValentine's Day box.
His love is not seasonal, it'snot shallow.
It's pursuing you in everyseason of your life.
Agape love is not dependent onhow well you're performing, or

(04:20):
whether you're in a relationshipor not, or whether you are not
feeling worthy.
It's a love that never gives up, never runs dry and never turns
away.
If you're single today, jesus isnot waiting for you to get
married, to use you.
If you're dating, he wants toguide you every step of that

(04:42):
journey.
If you're engaged, he'spreparing you for more than just
a wedding.
He's preparing you for alifetime of covenant.
If you're married, his love isthe glue, the grace and the
strength that holds it alltogether.
He didn't go to the cross justto give us a better life here on

(05:03):
earth.
He went to the cross to give useternal life and that kind of
perspective changes how we vieweverything.
So if the enemy has beenwhispering lies into your heart,
saying you're behind, forgottenand not good enough, today is
the day to shut him down.

(05:26):
Jesus says it is finished.
That means shame is finished,loneliness does not have the
final say and fear doesn't leadyour story.
Faith does.
Sometimes we focus so much onthe sacrifice we forget the
victory.
The tomb is empty.

(05:48):
Jesus is alive and because he'salive, we don't walk through
this life alone or powerless.
And because he lives, you canface tomorrow with peace, with
hope and with joy.
In John 11, 25, it says I am theresurrection and the life.

(06:11):
The one who believes in me willlive even though they die.
Resurrection is not just amoment.
It's the evidence that Jesusconquered sin, death and
everything that tries to stealour joy.
It is because of Jesus yourpast can be redeemed, your

(06:32):
present can be peaceful and yourfuture is filled with promise.
Here's the thing Jesus didn'tjust die so we could have heaven
someday.
That means you don't have tocarry shame anymore.
That means you can love again,trust again, dream again.
That means your heart doesn'thave to stay guarded or bitter.

(06:55):
It can be soft again, healedagain.
You don't have to carry theweight of the world on your
shoulders.
You were never meant to.
Matthews 11, 28 through 30reminds us come to me all you
who are weary and burdened, andI will give you rest.

(07:16):
He's not asking you to bestrong for everyone.
He's inviting you to give itall to him the anxiety, the
heartbreaks, the confusion, theexhaustion.
1 Peter 5, 7 says cast all youranxieties on him because he
cares for you.
Jesus didn't rise just to provea point.

(07:40):
He rose to make the way for usto walk in relationship with a
good and gracious father wholistens, who loves and who
carries what we can't.
The tomb is empty.
Our hearts don't have to be.
Because Jesus rose, we get torise too.

(08:00):
We get to live with joy evenwhen things are uncertain.
We get to live with purposeeven when we're still waiting,
and we get to love others, notjust out of our own strength,
but with the same love Jesusgave us.
This is what we celebrate onEaster A God who didn't just

(08:24):
make a way to get to heaven, hemade a way to live abundantly
now, to walk in peace, in joy,in wholeness.
And when we let that truth sinkin.
That's when we become the kindof person that reflects the
heart of Jesus.
He is a good, good father, sogive it to him today.

(08:50):
He's here, he's listening andhe's strong enough to hold it
all.
And if you're looking to divedeeper into the life of Jesus, I
highly recommend checking outthe Chosen series.
It beautifully brings his storyto life, showing his humanity,

(09:10):
compassion and the way he walkedwith those who loved.
It's a powerful way to connectwith the heart of Jesus.
Let's talk about yourrelationships.
Easter means your relationshipisn't just about compatibility.
It's about calling.
It's not about butterflies.

(09:31):
It's about building somethingthat glorifies God.
The cross reminds us that lovesacrifices, it shows up, it
forgives, it chooses.
And because of Jesus, we don'thave to love out of our own
broken patterns anymore.
We don't have to repeatgenerational cycles.

(09:54):
We can love differently becausewe are loved by him perfectly.
If you're married, let Easterremind you of what covenant
truly means Love that isselfless and sacrificial.
If you're engaged, let Easterremind you that it's not just

(10:15):
about the wedding, it's aboutthe foundation.
If you're dating, let Easterremind you to look for someone
who reflects the love of Christ.
And if you're single, letEaster remind you that you are
not waiting to be loved.
You are already deeply knownand loved by the one who gave it

(10:37):
all for you.
Ephesians 1, 19 through 20reminds us.
I pray that you will understandthe incredible greatness of
God's power.
For us who believe, this is thesame mighty power that raised
Christ from the dead.
The same resurrection power isavailable to you right now, Not

(11:03):
someday, not when you have itall figured out.
Today, right now, in thismoment, you have the God-given
power to walk in peace, power toforgive, power to wait with joy
, power to choose faith overfear and, ultimately, the power

(11:24):
to be the light in a world thatdesperately needs Jesus.
That's what Easter offers usNot just salvation, but
transformation.
Because of Easter.
Your worth isn't tied tooutside opinions.
You're already chosen by theKing of Kings.
Let's pray together.

(11:46):
Jesus, we thank you.
Thank you for going to thecross, not out of duty but out
of love.
Thank you for rising again andgiving us eternal life.
You are the reason we have hope.
You are the reason we can love.
You are the reason we can livefreely.

(12:09):
Thank you for the cross, thankyou for the empty tomb, thank
you for seeing us at our worstand loving us.
Anyway, I pray over every singlelistener right now, no matter
where they are in their journey.
Fill them with resurrectionpower.
Let joy return.

(12:29):
Let peace settle in.
Let your love remind them thatthey are never alone.
Remind them that they arechosen, seen and deeply loved.
Bring healing to the placesthat still hurt and joy to the
places that feel dry.
We give you our hearts, ourdesires and our futures, and we

(12:55):
celebrate the victory youalready won In your precious and
holy name.
Amen.
He is risen, and that changeseverything.
I want to remind you you arefree, you are chosen, you are
forgiven and you are so deeplyloved.
You are already fully known,fully loved and fully accepted

(13:19):
in Jesus, and I pray this Easter.
You feel that in your bones.
Take some time to sit with him,thank him, soak in his love.
Go into Easter with Jesus's joy, not because life is perfect,
but because Jesus is Celebratebig.
Rest well and let your heartstay soft in the hands of the

(13:44):
one who gave everything for it.
We'll be back next weekcontinuing our marriage series,
but for now, happy Easter fromall of us at 1 True Match, and
continue to allow your life tobe reflections of the greatest
love story ever told Next weekfrom I do to forever how to

(14:06):
maintain a strong foundationbeyond the honeymoon.
I hope you have a blessed andincredible week and I can't wait
for our next talk.
It's been another great talk onthis episode of 1 True Talks by
Renee Richel .
I look forward to our next chat.
Please write in your questionsand comments so I can be sure to

(14:29):
talk about whatever it is youwant to discuss in our next
upcoming episode.
Lots of Love, God Bless, XOXO.