1 True Talks
1 True Talks
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."
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and president of 1 True Match. I'm here to help you find and cultivate the love of your life. For over a decade, I've dedicated my life to the importance, purpose and dynamic of human relationships. My team and I are disciplined by faith, love and integrity to help our clients find the quality relationship they've always dreamt of. Each week, I will be sharing the tools and tips I've learned that have rooted my success as a matchmaker with other leaders around the world. Hello, loves, welcome back. I hope you have had an incredible week.
Renee Richel:I am excited to dive into this subject today the power of Easter agape, love, the love that never fails. If you're new here, I'm so happy you're here. Welcome to the family. And if you've been tuning in to us for a while, you already know we show up here to talk about love, relationships, faith and the journey of living life with God at the center. Now, if you've been keeping up with us, you know we've been in the powerful series of marriage and preparing our hearts for the covenant God designed. But today we're taking a beautiful pause because this Sunday is Easter and I couldn't let this week pass without creating space to reflect on the most important love story of all time. Whether you're single, dating, engaged or married, today's episode is for you because every one of us needs to be reminded of the deep, sacrificial, world-shaking love of Christ, the love that laid down everything for us. So take a deep breath, put the to-do list aside for a minute. Let this be a moment between you and the Lord. Let's talk about the cross. Let's talk about the empty tomb. Let's talk about the unconditional detune. Let's talk about the unconditional, unique kind of love that changes everything.
Renee Richel:Easter isn't just a story we tell once a year. This holiday is not about going to church on Sunday, dying pastel colored eggs or taking a picture with the Easter Bunny. Easter is the foundation of our faith. The cross was personal. He died for you and me. Romans 5.8 says. But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, christ died for us. He didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up. He didn't wait until we were married, healed or had it all together. He loved us right where we were Messy, broken, doubting, questioning, unfinished. That is powerful and that is the kind of unconditional, agape love that no human relationship could ever match. That kind of love doesn't ask what do I get out of this, but says I'll give everything because you are worth it. The cross wasn't about force. It was about agape love in its purest form, a love that pursues you in every season.
Renee Richel:One of the lies the enemy loves to whisper, especially around the holidays, is that love only looks like a relationship, like flowers or dates or Instagram-worthy moments. I'm here to remind you. God's love doesn't fit into a Valentine's Day box. His love is not seasonal, it's not shallow. It's pursuing you in every season of your life. Agape love is not dependent on how well you're performing, or whether you're in a relationship or not, or whether you are not feeling worthy. It's a love that never gives up, never runs dry and never turns away.
Renee Richel:If you're single today, jesus is not waiting for you to get married, to use you. If you're dating, he wants to guide you every step of that journey. If you're engaged, he's preparing you for more than just a wedding. He's preparing you for a lifetime of covenant. If you're married, his love is the glue, the grace and the strength that holds it all together. He didn't go to the cross just to give us a better life here on earth. He went to the cross to give us eternal life and that kind of perspective changes how we view everything.
Renee Richel:So if the enemy has been whispering lies into your heart, saying you're behind, forgotten and not good enough, today is the day to shut him down. Jesus says it is finished. That means shame is finished, loneliness does not have the final say and fear doesn't lead your story. Faith does. Sometimes we focus so much on the sacrifice we forget the victory. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive and because he's alive, we don't walk through this life alone or powerless. And because he lives, you can face tomorrow with peace, with hope and with joy.
Renee Richel:In John 11, 25, it says I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even though they die. Resurrection is not just a moment. It's the evidence that Jesus conquered sin, death and everything that tries to steal our joy. It is because of Jesus your past can be redeemed, your present can be peaceful and your future is filled with promise.
Renee Richel:Here's the thing Jesus didn't just die so we could have heaven someday. That means you don't have to carry shame anymore. That means you can love again, trust again, dream again. That means your heart doesn't have to stay guarded or bitter. It can be soft again, healed again. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You were never meant to.
Renee Richel:Matthews 11, 28 through 30 reminds us come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. He's not asking you to be strong for everyone. He's inviting you to give it all to him the anxiety, the heartbreaks, the confusion, the exhaustion. 1 Peter 5, 7 says cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. Jesus didn't rise just to prove a point. He rose to make the way for us to walk in relationship with a good and gracious father who listens, 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 to rise too. We get to live with joy even when things are uncertain. We get to live with purpose even when we're still waiting, and we get to love others, not just out of our own strength, but with the same love Jesus gave us. This is what we celebrate on Easter A God who didn't just make a way to get to heaven, he made a way to live abundantly now, to walk in peace, in joy, in wholeness. And when we let that truth sink in. That's when we become the kind of person that reflects the heart of Jesus. He is a good, good father, so give it to him today. He's here, he's listening and he's strong enough to hold it all. And if you're looking to dive deeper into the life of Jesus, I highly recommend checking out the Chosen series. It beautifully brings his story to life, showing his humanity, compassion and the way he walked with those who loved. It's a powerful way to connect with the heart of Jesus.
Renee Richel:Let's talk about your relationships. Easter means your relationship isn't just about compatibility. It's about calling. It's not about butterflies. It's about building something that glorifies God. The cross reminds us that love sacrifices, it shows up, it forgives, it chooses. And because of Jesus, we don't have to love out of our own broken patterns anymore. We don't have to repeat generational cycles. We can love differently because we are loved by him perfectly.
Renee Richel:If you're married, let Easter remind you of what covenant truly means Love that is selfless and sacrificial. If you're engaged, let Easter remind you that it's not just about the wedding, it's about the foundation. If you're dating, let Easter remind you to look for someone who reflects the love of Christ. And if you're single, let Easter remind you that you are not waiting to be loved. You are already deeply known and loved by the one who gave it all for you. Ephesians 1, 19 through 20 reminds us.
Renee Richel:I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power. For us who believe, this is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead. The same resurrection power is available to you right now, Not someday, not when you have it all figured out. Today, right now, in this moment, you have the God-given power to walk in peace, power to forgive, power to wait with joy, power to choose faith over fear and, ultimately, the power to be the light in a world that desperately needs Jesus. That's what Easter offers us Not just salvation, but transformation. Because of Easter. Your worth isn't tied to outside opinions. You're already chosen by the King of Kings. Let's pray together.
Renee Richel:Jesus, we thank you. Thank you for going to the cross, not out of duty but out of love. Thank you for rising again and giving us eternal life. You are the reason we have hope. You are the reason we can love. You are the reason we can live freely. Thank you for the cross, thank you for the empty tomb, thank you for seeing us at our worst and loving us.
Renee Richel:Anyway, I pray over every single listener right now, no matter where they are in their journey. Fill them with resurrection power. Let joy return. Let peace settle in. Let your love remind them that they are never alone. Remind them that they are chosen, seen and deeply loved. Bring healing to the places that still hurt and joy to the places that feel dry. We give you our hearts, our desires and our futures, and we celebrate the victory you already won In your precious and holy name. Amen.
Renee Richel:He is risen, and that changes everything. I want to remind you you are free, you are chosen, you are forgiven and you are so deeply loved. You are already fully known, fully loved and fully accepted 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 Celebrate big. Rest well and let your heart stay soft in the hands of the one who gave everything for it.
Renee Richel:We'll be back next week continuing our marriage series, but for now, happy Easter from all of us at 1 True Match, and continue to allow your life to be reflections of the greatest love story ever told Next week from I do to forever how to maintain a strong foundation beyond the honeymoon. I hope you have a blessed and incredible week and I can't wait for our next talk. It's been another great talk on this episode of 1 True Talks by Renee Richel . I look forward to our next chat. Please write in your questions and comments so I can be sure to talk about whatever it is you want to discuss in our next upcoming episode. Lots of Love, God Bless, XOXO.