Sunday, January 4, 2009
Living in Love
The sermon this morning is really quite simple. Everyone recognizes that we need to love and be loved. We can't do this on our own. Therefore, we need God to fill us with his unquenchable supply of love so that we CAN love one another. It's not hard to understand; putting it into practice is something else. However, give it a shot this week. Love someone who cannot repay you or return your love. Perhaps you could anonymously do good for someone in need. Don't think of it as your doing something for someone; instead, think of it as passing on what God has already given you in abundance.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I thought it was really cool when you had us sing "all you need is love" by the beatles. fun stuff!
I think its a great point to consider, to do good without the thought or idea of being repaid. it feels much more rewarding to give without the consideration of getting anything back from it.
What about feeling good about yourself for giving without the intention of being repaid?
Wow - I found out I had alot to conseider after Sunday's sermon love. I have more questions that I thought possible with 14 little verses! So here goes -
1. How do we "know" God lives in us? Is it a feeling/faith/belief?
2. How do we "know" we live in God?
3.Do those who just "acknowledge" God give them heaven? (v.15)
4. What does it mean to "live in love"? Is this phileo? Agape? parent-child? How is this really demonstrated? (v.16)
5. (v.18)Is this a physical fear? Can it be?
6.What is the defintion of fear in verse 18?
7. v.19-21 Who is my brother? If I believe that it is basically "everyone" I have contact with - this then includes my ex husband. How is it that I show "love" to this person? Am I a liar as the verse says if I do not? Where do I start to forgive years of abuse and torment and show the "love" that this verse is talking about?
As you can tell I struggle with this. I fear I am not a loving person to people and most of all my family. I feel I had a "loving" home growing up but not an "affectionate" home and I am wanting that desperately for my home even though that is "out of my comfort zone" - I suppose.
The lesson was fantastic Sunday. It really hit home with me. I had be given this verse (I Jn 4:18) by a close friend at 17 yrs old and I have never heard a sermon preached on it that I can remember. The funny part is that we talked about it in Homebuilders class too that day and I was amazed. Imagine my amazement that the sermon was on the same set of verses! I kindof chuckled after a new member had been introduced that day and she stated that the sermons were "meaty". I thought to myself that she couldn't have been more right - especially for today's lesson. And what a lesson that was! I have thought about it so many times this week and imagine I will in the future as I am trying to find answers to the questions I have on Love.
Thank you Byron.
I'm not going to try to answer all the questions you posted Cat, but do want to take a stab at what I think might be at the heart of them. Love is the dominate theme of these verses; indeed of the entire Gospel. Jesus taught us that it's not really a big deal to love those who love us. What's exceptional, however,is to love our enemies (that probably would include your ex).
Loving means doing what is best for another. It does not mean being a doormat, allowing people to walk all over us. Jesus was known to "get in people's faces" from time to time. He even drove some people out of the temple with a whip on one occasion. In spite of these things, he genuinely loved everyone and his deepest desire was that all would come to know God.
The question I ask myself is "what does that person really need?" Do they need food or have they proven they need a little stronger incentive to provide food for themselves? Such questions are difficult to answer sometimes but love is willing to work at it because it has their best interest at heart.
Post a Comment