The love of God.

We had a wonderful sermon on Sunday about the love of God.When we think of love,especially around Valentine's Day I really don't think we comprehend what true love is really like.Unfortunately what we see in society as love is really not genuine love at all.We see so many marriages end in divorce these days,why? Usually you will hear people say "Well I fell out of love with that person."

What we think of as love is something played out on a television show or movie,that's usually more lust than love or some sappy words in a Hallmark card.Not that Hallmark cards can't be nice,but what God's love is, is AGAPE love a never ending love.He loved us when we hated,despised and rejected him.

1 John 4:9-10

King James Version (KJV)

 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Even though we hated and rejected God he loved us enough to send his son to die for us.We can say those words and in a way we've heard them so much that in some ways they have seem to have lost their meaning,but if you think of it this way you can get a better understanding.Think of your precious children your son or your daughter,whom you would lay down your life for.Think of them having to give up their lives so another may live,how tough would that be?
It might be extremely tough,but if that person is grateful and loving for the sacrifice they made it might be more acceptable.
Now think of your son or daughter giving up their life for someone that hates and despises them.You would think how could that person be so ungrateful?
That's AGAPE love that's the love God had for us in sending Jesus to die for us.

John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Now here is the second part,one of the harder parts,loving our enemies and one another.

1 John 4:20-21

King James Version (KJV)

 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

How can we love God with the same mouth that also curses our brother.A person that God created in his own image.

As our pastor said you may think "God give me the strength to love this person," but that person could be thinking the same thing about you.

Romans 12:14-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
¹⁵Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
¹⁶Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
¹⁷Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
¹⁹Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Believe me these things I write are a conviction to myself.

I think this is an area we can all struggle with at times.Even Paul struggled: 

Romans 7:14¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ¹⁶If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ²¹I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

I am so thankful God's mercies are new every day.I fail and fall so many times and I often get discouraged,but I think those are the times we are trying to do things on our own strength.It's only through God's love,grace and power the we can we get away from our sinful nature and walk more according to his Word.

Finally do you know how The Bible says we can identify ourselves? It's by our love.

John 13:34-36

King James Version (KJV)

³⁴A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

 

By our love towards one another we are showing that we are his disciples.It's certainly eye opening that anytime I'm not showing that genuine love or AGAPE love my light is a little less bright.