Loves Acts

Introduction

I would like to being today by taking a few moments to reflect on the life and witness of two remarkable women: Perpetua and Felicity. They were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ in the year 203 AD, during the persecution of Emperor Septimius Severus in North Africa. Despite the tremendous suffering they endured, these women showed us what it truly means to live out love in action.

Perpetua was a young noblewoman, a wife, and a mother, while Felicity was her slave and also a new mother. These two women were very different in many ways, but they shared a common faith in Jesus Christ. When they were arrested for their beliefs, they refused to renounce their faith, even in the face of torture and death.

Their story is an inspiration to all of us, and it teaches us that love is not just a feeling, but an action. Love is a decision to put others before ourselves, to sacrifice for their well-being, and to stand up for what is right, even when it's difficult.

Perpetua and Felicity embodied this kind of love in their final days. They could have easily saved their own lives by denying their faith, but instead, they chose to remain faithful to Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of their suffering, they showed compassion and concern for their fellow prisoners, sharing their food and water and ministering to their needs.

Their love in action was also evident in the way they faced their execution. They did not cower in fear or despair, but instead, they sang hymns and praised God, even as they were put to death. Their witness was so powerful that even some of their executioners were moved to convert to Christianity.

As we reflect on the example of Perpetua and Felicity, we must ask ourselves: How can we embody this kind of love in our own lives? How can we put the needs of others before our own, even when it's difficult?

Laying Down our Time

For some time is the most precious commodity.

Our work time

Our family time

Our personal time

We guard our time more than anything else

We make schedules

We follow schedules

We learn this early

We show love for others when we give them our time

When we put time for others in our schedules

When we adjust our schedules for them

When we abandon our schedules for them

Psalm 31:15 ESV

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

Laying Down our Talents

We are each given different talents

Spiritual gifts

Human gifts

Our talents are not given to us for our benefit

We use them to get ahead

Graham Bell vs. Tesla

God designed them to benefit his kingdom

We show love when we use our talents to benefit others

Laying Down our Resources

Our resources don’t belong to us

possessions, our money

They all belong to God

Our possessions really mean nothing

You can’t take it with you

Ancient vikings, Egyptians, Chinese, etc.

Qin Shi Huang, 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses, 150 calvary horses.

8800 pieces.

When we give up our resources we show our love

Acts 2:44–45 NIV

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

We show they matter more than our possession (Things)

We show that we trust God more than ourselves.

Conclusion

Love in action is about God’s love flowing through us. It is us showing love to the world because God has first shown us his perfect love. When we experience that love it flows though us. So today experience God’s love in such a way that it flows through us. Allow perfect love to show in us as we lay down our lives for our friends though laying down our time, our talents, and our resources. Giving all we have to the world, because God gave all he has for us. Let up pray.