With so much scripture on love, and all the notes I have taken and my own personal thoughts, I thought it was time for me to take my first swing at the message. I hope you will share your thoughts, insights, and any corrections you see that need to be made.
Message on Love
How can I share with you what love is, without sharing Who Love is? Should I try romance? Entice you with physical pleasures. Talk to you in a way that pleases you. Doing this might make you feel like you are loved, but as a song by Tina Turner says, ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ The song continues with that it is a second hand emotion. So we have this romantic, sensual, and physical love, which is nothing more than a feeling. It is like a candle that will eventually burn itself out, and leave you feeling like a boat tossed about by the waves of the ocean.
So, what is love?
We all have a mother and father. We may not all have been raised by both parents and some grew up without even one of them. There are those who were raised in loving homes. Who know what it is like to be cared for, and were loved unconditionally. Even when times were difficult, you felt safe and knew that they would take care of you. Unfortunately there are many who grew up abused, neglected, and rejected. Feeling worthless and unloved. Only knowing fear and hatred. If this is you, then you may have a difficult time understanding love or that God is a loving Father. God is our Heavenly Father.
Today I want to help you to see Him, for who He is. I do not know what your childhood was like, and I am not going to get into my own. What I do know is that we all have a Heavenly Father that loves each and everyone of us. It is His love that I need to share with you, because He is love.
Most people have heard John 3:16. Even at a sporting event you have probably seen someone with a cardboard sign with 3:16 written on it.
For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
This is love, and who God is. He gave us everything, and He didn’t hold anything back. If you are a parent, would you sacrifice your child to save another? We would sacrifice ourselves for our children and even to save the life of someone else we love. I know none of us would sacrifice our child for anyone if we knew them or not, and definitely not for an enemy.
Thankfully our ways are not God’s ways. He did sacrifice His own Son to save not only those who said they believed in Him but for those who rejected Him, who hated Him. His enemies.
His way is love because He is Love. Jesus told us to love our enemies. This is not our way. God showed us this love when He sent His son, Jesus to die for our sins. He did not die for the righteous who were without sin. Is there anyone of us who are righteous and without sin? No. If any one of us had been there when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him, would one of us been able to throw a stone? No we would not have because there is none who has not sinned. Jesus said that there was no greater love than for a man to lay down their life for another. Many would do this for our children, loved ones, and even a friend. Would any of us die for someone who hated us, or persecuted us. Would you die to save the life of someone who wanted to take your life? Would you die to save the life of an enemy? I do not think one of us would. That is what Jesus did, when He chose to die on that cross. We were all His enemies.
Love gives when there is nothing left to give and expects nothing in return. It shares in our suffering and cries with us. It brings us comfort when nothing else can. It does not kick us when we are down. It stretches out its’ arm and lifts us up and places us in a safe place. Love is mercy and grace. Love is God.
There is so much more about love and God to share, but for today I hope that this message has helped to introduce you to Love and the One who is Love, who is God. For others I hope this has helped to reacquaint you with The One True Love, who Is God.
Scripture reference:
2 Timothy 4:3
John 3:16
Romans 3:10
John 15:13
Matthew 5:44
Please take time to read these scriptures and listen to God speak to you.
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