No Ordinary Love

1 John 4:9–10 NKJV

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

NO ORDINARY LOVE

IN THE EARLY 90’s THERE WAS A SOULFUL SONG RELEASED BY A NIGERIAN BORN BRITISH SINGER SADE CALLED “NO ORDINARY LOVE”. THIS SONG TOP THE US BILLBOARD MUSIC CHARTS AND WAS A POPULAR SONG IN THE US.

ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE INCLUDED THE SONG ‘NO ORDINARY LOVE’ IN THEIR LIST OF ‘500 BEST SONGS OF ALL TIME’ IN 2021.

IN SADE’S SONG…..WE LEARN OF A ONE SIDED LOVE AFFAIR….IN WHICH SHE POURS HER HEART OUT ABOUT A LOVE THAT SHE WANTED BUT NEVER RECEIVED.….

IN OUR TEXT TODAY WE WILL LEARN OF THE DIVINE, INCOMPARABLE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US….THAT IS TRULY NO ORDINARY LOVE….BUT EXTRAORDINARY

MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE

WHEN WE CONSIDER GOD'S LOVE, WE MIGHT FIRST THINK OF THE BEAUTY OF CREATION. THE SUN THAT WARMS OUR FACES, THE GENTLE RAIN THAT NOURISHES THE EARTH, THE DELICATE FLOWERS THAT BLOOM IN THE SPRING - ALL OF THESE ARE EXPRESSIONS OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US.

BUT THE LOVE OF GOD IS NOT JUST SEEN IN THE NATURAL WORLD. IT IS ALSO SEEN IN THE WAY HE INTERACTS WITH US, HIS CHILDREN.

GOD'S LOVE IS ACTIVE, NOT PASSIVE. IT IS NOT JUST A FEELING HE HAS TOWARDS US, BUT SOMETHING HE DOES FOR US.

HE DOESN'T JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH US FROM A DISTANCE. HE GETS INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES. HE REACHES OUT TO US, EVEN WHEN WE ARE FAR FROM HIM.

THIS IS MOST CLEARLY SEEN IN THE SENDING OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

GOD DIDN'T JUST TELL US HE LOVED US. HE SHOWED US.

HE DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE IN A TANGIBLE WAY.

HE SENT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO LIVE AMONG US, TO TEACH US, TO HEAL US, AND ULTIMATELY, TO DIE FOR US.

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE. IT IS LOVE IN ACTION. IT IS LOVE THAT SACRIFICES, LOVE THAT GIVES, LOVE THAT GOES BEYOND WORDS AND BECOMES REALITY.

IT IS LOVE THAT IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING US BACK TO GOD, EVEN IF IT MEANS GIVING UP EVERYTHING.

BUT GOD'S LOVE IS NOT JUST SEEN IN THE BIG THINGS.

IT IS ALSO SEEN IN THE SMALL, EVERYDAY MOMENTS OF OUR LIVES.

IT IS SEEN IN THE WAY HE PROVIDES FOR OUR NEEDS, IN THE WAY HE ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS, IN THE WAY HE COMFORTS US IN OUR SORROW, AND IN THE WAY HE REJOICES WITH US IN OUR JOY.

GOD'S LOVE IS ALSO SEEN IN THE WAY HE FORGIVES US.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.

WE ALL FALL SHORT OF GOD'S STANDARDS.

BUT GOD DOESN'T HOLD OUR SINS AGAINST US.

INSTEAD, HE FORGIVES US. HE WIPES OUR SLATE CLEAN.

HE GIVES US A FRESH START. THIS IS ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE.

IT IS LOVE THAT FORGIVES, LOVE THAT RESTORES, LOVE THAT MAKES ALL THINGS NEW.

GOD'S LOVE IS ALSO SEEN IN THE WAY HE GUIDES US.

HE DOESN'T LEAVE US TO FIGURE THINGS OUT ON OUR OWN.

HE GIVES US HIS WORD TO GUIDE US. HE GIVES US HIS SPIRIT TO LEAD US.

HE GIVES US HIS WISDOM TO HELP US MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

THIS IS ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE. IT IS LOVE THAT GUIDES, LOVE THAT LEADS, LOVE THAT ENLIGHTENS.

FINALLY, GOD'S LOVE IS SEEN IN THE WAY HE EMPOWERS US. HE DOESN'T JUST SAVE US AND LEAVE US TO FEND FOR OURSELVES.

HE EMPOWERS US TO LIVE FOR HIM. HE GIVES US HIS SPIRIT TO STRENGTHEN US.

HE GIVES US HIS GRACE TO SUSTAIN US.

HE GIVES US HIS POWER TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.

THIS IS ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE.

IT IS LOVE THAT EMPOWERS, LOVE THAT STRENGTHENS, LOVE THAT ENABLES US TO DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US.

IN ALL THESE WAYS, WE SEE THE MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE. IT IS A LOVE THAT IS ACTIVE, SACRIFICIAL, FORGIVING, GUIDING, AND EMPOWERING.

IT IS A LOVE THAT IS NOT JUST SPOKEN, BUT SHOWN. IT IS A LOVE THAT IS NOT JUST FELT, BUT EXPERIENCED. IT IS A LOVE THAT IS NOT JUST BELIEVED, BUT LIVED. IT IS THE LOVE OF GOD, MANIFESTED IN THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.

MISSION OF THE ONLY SON

AS WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON THE WORDS OF 1 JOHN 4:9-10, WE FIND OUR ATTENTION DRAWN TO THE MISSION OF THE ONLY SON.

1 John 4:9–10 NKJV

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

THIS MISSION, AS OUTLINED IN THE SCRIPTURE, IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK OR AN EARTHLY ASSIGNMENT.

IT IS A DIVINE ENDEAVOR, A HEAVENLY MANDATE, A SACRED UNDERTAKING. THE MISSION OF THE ONLY SON IS THE VERY HEARTBEAT OF THE GOSPEL, THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR FAITH, THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SALVATION.

THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD.

THIS ACT OF SENDING IS NOT A MERE DISPATCH OR A CASUAL DELEGATION.

IT IS A PURPOSEFUL, INTENTIONAL, AND SACRIFICIAL SENDING. IT IS A SENDING THAT IS BORN OUT OF LOVE, FUELED BY GRACE, AND AIMED AT REDEMPTION.

IN THE ACT OF SENDING HIS SON, GOD WAS NOT MERELY SENDING A MESSENGER OR A PROPHET.

HE WAS SENDING HIS VERY OWN, HIS BELOVED, HIS ONE AND ONLY. THIS IS NOT A DISTANT, DETACHED DEITY SENDING A SUBORDINATE.

THIS IS A LOVING, INVOLVED FATHER SENDING HIS CHERISHED SON.

THE GRAVITY OF THIS ACT, THE DEPTH OF THIS SACRIFICE, THE ENORMITY OF THIS LOVE, IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SPEND A LIFETIME CONTEMPLATING AND STILL ONLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE.

THE SCRIPTURE ALSO TELLS US THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS SENDING WAS SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM.

THIS IS NOT A MERE EXISTENCE OR A SIMPLE SURVIVAL.

THIS IS A FULL, ABUNDANT, ETERNAL LIFE. THIS IS A LIFE OF FREEDOM, A LIFE OF PURPOSE, A LIFE OF JOY. THIS IS A LIFE THAT IS FOUND NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH OR WISDOM, BUT IN HIM.

THE TERM USED FOR "LIVE" IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK TEXT IS "ZAO." THIS WORD IS USED THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT TO DENOTE NOT JUST PHYSICAL LIFE, BUT SPIRITUAL LIFE.

IT IS USED IN JOHN 10:10

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

, WHERE JESUS DECLARES THAT HE CAME SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.

IT IS USED IN ROMANS 8:13 WHERE PAUL WRITES THAT IF WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH WE WILL DIE, BUT IF BY THE SPIRIT WE PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, WE WILL LIVE.

Romans 8:13 NKJV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

IN EACH OF THESE INSTANCES, "ZAO" POINTS TO A LIFE THAT IS VIBRANT, DYNAMIC, AND ETERNAL.

THE MISSION OF THE ONLY SON, THEN, IS NOT JUST ABOUT HIS COMING TO EARTH.

IT IS ABOUT HIS COMING TO BRING LIFE.

IT IS ABOUT HIS COMING TO BRING A LIFE THAT IS FULL, ABUNDANT, AND ETERNAL.

IT IS ABOUT HIS COMING TO BRING A LIFE THAT IS FOUND NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH OR WISDOM, BUT IN HIM.

THIS LIFE THAT HE BRINGS IS NOT A REWARD FOR OUR GOODNESS OR A RESULT OF OUR EFFORTS.

IT IS A GIFT OF HIS GRACE, A PRODUCT OF HIS LOVE, A FRUIT OF HIS SACRIFICE. IT IS A LIFE THAT IS GIVEN FREELY, GENEROUSLY, AND UNCONDITIONALLY.

IN THE MISSION OF THE ONLY SON, WE SEE THE HEART OF GOD.

WE SEE A GOD WHO LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD SEND HIS ONLY SON.

WE SEE A GOD WHO DESIRES FOR US TO HAVE LIFE, AND TO HAVE IT TO THE FULL. WE SEE A GOD WHO IS WILLING TO GO TO THE GREATEST LENGTHS, TO MAKE THE GREATEST SACRIFICE, TO BRING US INTO THIS LIFE.

AS WE REFLECT ON THE MISSION OF THE ONLY SON, LET US NOT TAKE THIS TRUTH FOR GRANTED.

LET US NOT TREAT IT AS A MERE FACT OR A SIMPLE DOCTRINE.

LET US HOLD IT IN OUR HEARTS, LET IT SHAPE OUR LIVES, LET GUIDE OUR WORSHIP.

FOR IN THE MISSION OF THE ONLY SON, WE FIND THE HEART OF OUR FAITH, THE HOPE OF OUR SALVATION, AND THE LOVE OF OUR GOD.

MAGNITUDE OF THE ATONING SACRIFICE

AS WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ATONING SACRIFICE, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO TRULY GRASP THE ENORMITY OF WHAT THIS MEANS. THE ATONING SACRIFICE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE BOUNDLESS LOVE OF GOD, A LOVE THAT SURPASSES HUMAN COMPREHENSION AND DEFIES EARTHLY LIMITATIONS.

THE ATONING SACRIFICE IS A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S LOVE IN ITS MOST RAW AND POWERFUL FORM. IT'S A LOVE THAT WILLINGLY BEARS THE WEIGHT OF OUR SINS, A LOVE THAT CHOOSES TO ENDURE THE UNIMAGINABLE PAIN OF SEPARATION FROM THE FATHER, A LOVE THAT LAYS DOWN ITS LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS. THIS IS THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US, A LOVE SO VAST AND SO DEEP THAT IT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS DIVINE.

THE FIRST ASPECT OF THIS ATONING SACRIFICE THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT IS A LOVE THAT IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE.

THIS IS NOT A LOVE THAT IS SELF-SERVING OR SELF-PRESERVING. THIS IS A LOVE THAT GIVES, THAT POURS ITSELF OUT, THAT SACRIFICES.

IT'S A LOVE THAT LOOKS AT THE CROSS AND SAYS, "YES, I WILL GO. I WILL BEAR THE WEIGHT OF THEIR SINS. I WILL DIE SO THAT THEY MIGHT LIVE."

THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, A LOVE THAT IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF US.

THE SECOND ASPECT OF THIS ATONING SACRIFICE IS THAT IT IS A LOVE THAT IS TRANSFORMATIVE.

THIS IS NOT A LOVE THAT LEAVES US AS WE ARE, BUT A LOVE THAT CHANGES US, THAT MOLDS US, THAT TRANSFORMS US.

IT'S A LOVE THAT TAKES OUR BROKENNESS AND MAKES US WHOLE, A LOVE THAT TAKES OUR SINFULNESS AND MAKES US RIGHTEOUS, A LOVE THAT TAKES OUR DEATH AND GIVES US LIFE.

THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, A LOVE THAT HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM US FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

AS WE REFLECT ON THESE TRUTHS, LET'S NOT JUST BE HEARERS OF THE WORD, BUT DOERS AS WELL.

LET'S ALLOW THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD'S LOVE, AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THE ATONING SACRIFICE, TO TRANSFORM OUR LIVES. LET'S LIVE IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THIS LOVE, A LOVE THAT IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE AND A LOVE THAT IS TRANSFORMATIVE.

LET'S LOVE OTHERS WITH THE SAME SELFLESS, SACRIFICIAL LOVE THAT GOD HAS SHOWN US. AND LET'S ALLOW THIS LOVE TO CHANGE US, TO MOLD US, TO TRANSFORM US INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.

CONCLUSION

AS WE DRAW OUR TIME TOGETHER TO A CLOSE, LET'S REMEMBER THE PROFOUND LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

IT'S NOT A LOVE THAT'S DISTANT OR ORDINARY , BUT ONE THAT'S PERSONAL, INTIMATE, AND SACRIFICIAL.

GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE FOR US IN THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WAY POSSIBLE - BY SENDING HIS ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, INTO THE WORLD SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM.

THIS LOVE ISN'T BASED ON OUR WORTHINESS OR OUR GOOD DEEDS, BUT ON HIS GRACE AND MERCY.

IT'S A LOVE THAT COVERS OUR SINS, HEALS OUR WOUNDS, AND BRINGS US INTO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

IT'S A LOVE THAT TRANSFORMS US FROM THE INSIDE OUT, MAKING US NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST.

A LOVE THAT NEVER ENDS

A LOVE THAT NEVER FAILS

A LOVE THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM

A LOVE THAT WENT TO CALVARY’S CROSS

A LOVE THAT GIVES US LIFE

A LOVE THAT GIVES US STRENGTH

LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.

DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE LOVE FOR US. THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON, JESUS, TO BE OUR SAVIOR AND OUR REDEEMER. AS WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, HELP US TO CARRY YOUR LOVE WITH US WHEREVER WE GO. MAY WE BE A REFLECTION OF YOUR LOVE TO THOSE AROUND US, SHOWING THEM YOUR GRACE, YOUR MERCY, AND YOUR COMPASSION. WE ASK THIS IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

AND NOW, MAY THE LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER, THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US ALL, NOW AND FOREVERMORE. AMEN.

GO IN PEACE, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS. REMEMBER, YOU ARE DEEPLY LOVED BY GOD. LET THAT LOVE FILL YOU, TRANSFORM YOU, AND OVERFLOW FROM YOU INTO THE WORLD. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.