Love is Always the Answer

What if we could find a way? To laugh, love, and pray And all of the choices that we make Would bring a brighter day

And what if there were no boundaries To keep us apart What if the only thing we made? Was music, love, and art?

What if we all knew we were one 'Cause we understood? This world would be a perfect place to love If only we could

You say I’m just a dreamer Like it's such a bad thing You can ignore the dreamer But you can't deny the dream

And I say I’m a true bеliever What I'm so certain of Is no mattеr what the question I know the answer The answer's always love, love

What if there were no problems? That we couldn't solve? What if the only thing we needed to do Is get involved?

You say I’m just a dreamer Like it's such a bad thing You can ignore the dreamer But you can't deny the dream

And I say I’m a true bеliever What I'm so certain of Is no mattеr what the question I know the answer The answer's always love, love

What if there were no problems? That we couldn't solve? What if the only thing we needed to do Is get involved?

And I say I'm a true believer And what I’m so certain of Is no matter what the question I know the answer The answer's always love

So, tell me now Why we all Seem to love to hate so much? If love's a sweet thing This world needs We can't love enough!

Oh, you say I’m a just a dreamer Like it's such a bad thing Well, you can ignore the dreamer But you can't deny the dream

And I say I'm a true believer And what I'm so certain of Is no matter what the question I know the answer The answer's always love The answer's always love

I heard these words in this song and I said wow. The Answer is Always Love. Is this why the Hebrew writer said let brotherly love continue?

We see a lack of love in society today. We have two mass shootings that made the news in less than a week. One in Colorado Springs where a shooter shot up a club and 5 perished then a few days later a disgruntle Walmart manager went the break room and shpt his fellow employees and then killed himself.

Now that just the national news but since we were together a mother and son were shot on 100th and Oglesby in a church parking lot.

Last week two teens were killed on 127 Calumet. We are approaching 600 murders this year and this is a good year. So whats the answer? The answer is Always love! Let brotherly love continue. This love is not the highest degree of love must its the love we are at least expected to achieve. Brotherly or Philio love. The root of Philadelphia ( City of Brotherly Love) Originally the love was to be shown to you fellow brother of common decent. Jesus widens that concept when he taught in Matthew 5 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 5:43–45). .

Through out the Bible we are encourage to love one anther! Rom 12:10 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Ro 12:10). Paul praised the Thessalonians 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more (1 Th 4:9–10).

Peter thought the concept of love was worth writing about. He said, 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Pe 1:22–23).

He shares in Chapter 3 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing (1 Pe 3:8–9).

This concept of love is and identifying marker of who we are in Christ. We can be of God and not operate or practice love.

Brotherly Love Confirms Your Calling

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I actually have a responsibility to preach about love! The Gospel is a testimony of God’s love towards us. As we embrace Advent season remember the Christmas Story is about love. Gods love for humanity. Gods love for you! So I have to direct you back to why we are here in the first place. LOVE

Remember Peter said in 2 Peter 1:12-15

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

(2 Pe 1:3–15).

Brotherly Love is of God

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 Jn 4:19–21).

When Jesus was challenged by the lawyer in Luke 10: Jesus praises him when he answered You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus told him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” What parable did Jesus share?

HE SHARED THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. He was identified as the one who assisted the beaten man. Not the priest or the levite who went to the other side to avoid involvement.

Brotherly Love advances the agenda of God

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Heb 13:2). This word Hospitality means to receive guest or strangers graciously. To go further the New Testament translation is xenos which focuses on stranger, foreigner or even enemy. Its one thing to treat someone in your circle good but can you extend that same grace to a stranger or even someone you know don’t like you?

You never know who God puts in your path to show if we of God and are the called! When we see verse 3 The word said 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Heb 13:3).

When we have opportunity we need to show love. demonstrate love. I have shared this before but remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. . (Mt 25:35–40).

God wants us to be a loving community who show love to each other and show love to the stranger. The community we are building is the beloved community. A place where love reigns supreme.

What if a hurting world can find love of GOD hear. If we can teach them to put down your weapons. Isaiah says He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. ISA 2:4

You say I’m a dreamer i say that’s a good thing

You can ignore the dreamer

But you can't deny the dream