Infinite Love for Us
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Good morning
Let me ask you a question
For those of you that are married or you’re dating
Do you remember your first date?
If your dating right now, you’re going to remember right away
If you’ve been married within the last 10-15 years, you’ll should remember or more than likely will
If you been married for 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or even 70 years do you remember that first date?
My story
I graduated the early summer of 1993
In some ways that feels like forever ago
But I remember graduating and feeling just really clueless what I wanted to do with my life
I struggled in school, didn’t really like it, I struggled with retaining what I was taught
I thought about college and just didn’t feel right
Throughout my jr and senior years I dated a few girls and had a couple significant relationships that I would maybe could last but didn’t
As I remember back I’m thankful they didn’t last
The fall of 1993 I actually decided I’m done with dating for now
Of course when you say that, God just drops someone in front of you and you’re like, wow, didn’t expect that
That is when I met Pam
I kind of knew who she was, seen her around here or there at softball games
So we met playing co-ed volleyball
I remember going to my first practice and she walked in and I was like WHAT
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, SHE’S ON THIS TEAM
OOH MAN LIFE JUST GOT A LITTLE SWEETER
Her take was quite a bit different
She will tell you, when she walked in and saw me, she thought, what is he doing here?
Pam thought my last name was Beachy and she thought I was some wild party animal
Which was so far from the truth
I remember we began to talk
We would talk after practices, we would talk after games
And not just 5-10 minute conversations, but 45 minutes to an hour sometimes
We went on our first date the end of November in 93
We went to Belden Village mall and just strolled around
I remember walking around in there and we ran into some people we both knew
And they had this deer in head lights look, what are you 2 doing together
We went to Applebee’s for dinner and then went back to her house and watched a movie
We dated for a month and then she left me
It was for a great, wonderful experience
The Lord had a call on her life and she went to Red Lake Ontario for a year of mission work
Before we started dating she had met with a rep from the mission agency for Red Lake and was really interested in going up there
When we started dating she told me right away that she could be potentially be leaving for a year
And I said go, don’t let me stop you from God is calling you to
I will be waiting for you when you get back
She left first of January and let me tell you I grew up a-lot that year
I learned who Matt was that year and I will tell you it was one of the best years of my life
This was before smartphones, texting, email, snapchat, facebook, instagram,
We wrote letters, cards, we talked on the phone for hours
I think after the first 2 weeks mom and dad were like, we need to do something different for a phone plan because we put a hurtin on the bill
Long distance was expensive
So we found a international plan that you had to dial a number and then the actual phone number
Today’s dating culture is so different
Couples these days are texting, snapchatting, etc...
I asked Sydney so when was your first date with Wyatt?
Well we snapchatted a few months and then went out
I think she thought that a snapchatting was a dating
I will say this, whatever she did, it worked out pretty well because we have got an awesome son-in-law
Little plug in for you youth
If or when you date, make sure you don’t date just behind the screen of your device, but actually get out there, and get to know each other by being present
You’re probably asking yourself right now, what does your dating story have to do with Christmas?
My imagination thinks that Mary and Joseph had a time of maybe not dating as we call it, but somewhat of a time where they got to know each other too, through their betrothal time in which we’ll get to in a little bit
I’m not going to go to deep in this, but their parents likely had their marriage arranged which was typical for ensuring social and economic stability
This was a standard cultural arrangement or common practice that happen back in their time
There were other standard cultural practices that they would of done to
My imagination thinks perhaps hey got to know each other to some aspect before their marriage
Perhaps they took evening walks or went to the market together
Perhaps she brought him lunch as he worked as a carpenter
I don’t know this is just speculation on my part
As we know about their story, their relationship, things begin to unravel for Joseph and yet
He had a love for her that was pretty special
Big Idea for today
God’s love for us is unconditional and is unending, which means his love for us isn’t dependent on what we do, our actions or merits
His love for us endures regardless of my flaws, failures, and mistakes
For our scripture today, I’ll be looking at Matthew chapter 1: 18-25 and this is the birth of Jesus
Points for today
God’s Plan for Redemption
Divine Guidance and Reassurance
Emmanuel - God With Us
God’s Plan for Redemption (Love That Saves)
God’s Plan for Redemption (Love That Saves)
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden
God put a plan in place to save humanity from sin
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
This verse has been called the proto-evangelium because it is the first note of God's redemptive intention following the fall in the garden of Eden
This plan was a great personal cost for God because this was his only son
Our heavenly father’s deep/profound love for us in redeeming humanity came at a personal cost
For those of you fathers here today that have boys
Would you give up your son so that the world could be redeemed from sin?
God’s love for us is so deep, so personal, he desires a relationship with us
Isaiah prophesied about the suffering that Jesus would go through for humanity
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Mary and Joseph play an important part to redeem humanity from sin
They could of said no, don’t use us for your plan
Their faithfulness and obedience is what led the first step for Jesus to enter the world
God’s love is the driving force behinds his plan of redemption
From the very beginning, God’s love for humanity compelled him to design a plan that would rescue us from sin
Divine Guidance and Reassurance (Love That Leads)
Divine Guidance and Reassurance (Love That Leads)
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph
This was a called a time of betrothal
This was before the actual marriage ceremony happened
It was a legally binding agreement and the couple was considered married and some respects but they didn’t live together and didn’t consummate their marriage until after the actual ceremony
They were called husband and wife
The betrothal period usually lasted about a year
The bride would be preparing for the ceremony and the husband would be preparing the home
When Mary started showing her pregnancy, Joseph’s world began to unravel
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
So a divorce could break the betrothal period and infidelity at this stage was considered adultery which could of led to death by stoning
A commentary I read suggested 3 thought patterns or ways of what Joseph was thinking about Mary
Mary shared her story of the visit with the angel, how she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and give birth to God’s son
Because Joseph was a just man, he had no desire to bring this out in the open
He didn’t want to divulge this miraculous conception
With that mindset, he felt unworthy to continue his plans of marriage to someone so highly favored and decided to withdraw
When usually read these 2 verses in Matthew we think we didn’t know about this until the pregnancy showed
2. Because Joseph was a just man and he didn’t want to expose Mary to public shame or disgrace, he proposed a quiet divorce
I had to think, usually divorces in our culture aren’t very quiet
It can often turn in to a knock out, drag out kind of situation
As a righteous man and someone who followed the Law of Moses
The law required that he end the engagement after finding out about Mary's pregnancy
However, his intention to do so quietly suggests he wanted to fulfill his legal obligation while minimizing harm to Mary
I have to think he cared for her, loved her, and wanted the best for her - even if she was unfaithful
Yet, being a person that abided by the law, he needed to break this off and move on with his life
3. Because Joseph was a just and righteous man who obeyed the law of Moses, could not in good conscience marry Mary who was now thought to be unfaithful
And this could of implied the admission of his own guilt
The full rigor of the law could of led Mary to be stoned
Because Joseph was unwilling to expose her to the disgrace of a public divorce, he chose a quieter way which was permitted by law
Joseph wasn’t wanting any public shame to her, the law allowed for a private divorce to happen before 2 witnesses
No matter if any of these 3 thought patterns is what went through his mind or not
He was a very just and righteous man
Another wards he was a great guy, one of the good ones
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Do you suppose Joseph had trouble falling asleep at night with all this going on?
Wondering what was happening
I thought we had a great thing going, I’m in love with her, she’s the best thing that has ever happened to me
How could Mary do this to me
I thought we were going to build a life together, a family together
And now she’s pregnant and really, by the Holy Spirit
I know what it is to have your mind racing at night when its time to sleep and you absolutely can’t
I’m not suggesting this happened to Joseph but I’m guessing there was some potential there
But then here again God does the miraculous
He sent an angel, a divine messenger
To Joseph in a dream and explains to him to not be afraid and to take your Mary home as his wife
The child growing inside her was conceived by the Holy Spirit
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
After the angel came to him in a dream and explained to him what really happened
Joseph obeyed immediately
God him the reassurance that it’s going to be alright
I have chosen you Joseph for my plan to save the world from sin
He took her home to be his wife
He was willing to accept this divine message and follow God's plan, even when it was socially awkward, unconventional, faced with possible ridicule, and personally challenging,
This demonstrates even more that he was a just and righteous man
Joseph had integrity, compassion, and a deep faith making him the perfect fit to Mary for God’s plan in bringing salvation to the world
Joseph’s qualities played a crucial role in the early life of Jesus
It also provided a loving and protective environment for Mary and their child
God’s love provides guidance ans reassurance to those who trust in him
Joseph is guided by an angel in a dream which shows us God’s love is present in our lives
Leading us and providing comfort even in times of fear and even uncertainty
Emmanuel - God With Us (Love That Dwells)
Emmanuel - God With Us (Love That Dwells)
Jump back up to verse 22
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
The prophecy that Jesus will be called "Emmanuel," meaning "God with us," illustrates the depth of God's love
God is not distant but present with us in our lives
Sharing in our joys and sorrows
Jesus as Emmanuel is a powerful manifestation of God's desire to be close to humanity, offering love, comfort, and salvation
God’s love for is not distant or abstract but present and tangible
Jesus, Emmanuel, is the embodiment of God’s love dwelling among us
His presence brings comfort, hope
He wants a deep connection that seeks a personal relationship with him
So what can we learn today from this wonderful story
Here are some takeaway’s that resonated with me putting this sermon together
Let’s start with Mary & Joseph
Unconditional Love
Mary and Joseph's love for each other and their dedication to God's plan shows how love can transcend challenges
Despite the social stigma and personal uncertainties, they chose to trust and support one another
2. Faith and Trust
Their journey exemplifies deep faith and trust in God
Mary's acceptance of her role as the mother of Jesus and
Joseph's willingness to stand by her side, despite initial doubts, highlight how love is intertwined with faith
3. Sacrifice and Commitment
Their story is a testament to the sacrifices made out of love
Joseph's decision to marry Mary and protect her and Jesus, despite the potential backlash, shows his commitment and selflessness
4. Divine Love and Purpose
The narrative underscores the idea of divine love and the purpose it brings
Their lives were a part of a greater plan for our redemption, our salvation
To tie it together with Mary and Joseph
Their story serves as a powerful example of how love, grounded in faith and mutual support, can overcome the most daunting challenges and social pressures.
It reminds us that true/deep love is about more than just feelings; it's about commitment, sacrifice, and the willingness to stand by each other no matter what.
They were in it for the long haul
There love for each other was so deep
They were committed, willing to stand by each other no matter what happened
They were committed when they couldn’t find a place in Bethlehem when Mary was ready to give birth
They were committed when the wooly, smelly shepherds showed up out of nowhere and began to worship Jesus
They were committed when the wise men showed up with gifts that Charlie spoke about 2 weeks ago
They were committed when they had to flee into Eygpt because Herod was killing all the boys 2 years and younger
If your married or in a relationship
Are you in it for the long haul?
Will you stand by your spouse no matter what happens?
There’s an adage out there about country songs, at least older country songs from 70’s and 80’s
If you play a country song backwards/reverse you get what?
You get your wife back, your house back, your truck back, your dog back, your money back
Usually that signifies that a divorce or separation happened
I’m praying and hopeful all of us here today aren’t going through such a difficult time like that
If you are, please come talk to me, I want to work with you
To close this out today
Jesus’s life and teaching often were centered around the concept of unconditional love
A love without limits attached
A love that knew no boundaries
A love that had no conditions
Jesus’s love is
Sacrificial
One of the most profound demonstrations was his willingness to sacrifice his own life for us
2. Compassionate
He showed deep compassion and care for everyone, all walks of life, didn’t matter who it was
He healed the sick, fed the hungry, welcomed those that were often marginalized by society
3. Forgiveness
His approach and teachings showed forgiveness as unconditional love
He taught forgiveness needs to be extended without any limits
4. Redemption and Hope
His life, death, and resurrection are ultimate acts of love that provide hope and promise of life with him
This love is available for everyone
Regardless of your past
Inviting us all to accept and experience the transformation that comes from his love for us
Do we understand that God’s love for us is infinite
The definition of infinite is
As something that has no limits or boundaries, it’s impossible to measure or calculate
Let me give 2 examples
1. In Mathematics
Infinite is used to describe quantities that grow without bound
The natural set of numbers, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, is infinite because there’s no end to numbers
2. Space and Time
Both the expanse of space and the duration of time are limitless
It has no boundaries or end
It essentially goes on forever in all directions and moments
There is no point in where space runs out or time stops
Worship Team
So when we say God’s love for us infinite, how can we even describe that?
Do we understand Gods love deep/infinite is
I will tell you today I can’t begin to fathom his infinite love for us
His boundless, limitless love for us
I can’t comprehend it
My ability to love someone is to the capacity of how I understand what love is, how I was shown love
My understanding of love is how I was shown love as a child or how I’m loved as an adult today
By God’s grace I had parents, mentors, my wife, my family, extended family, friends, co-workers that have loved be beyond what I ever deserve
Hopefully I can love back like that
My prayer is that all of us here today have a love that is at a high capacity
However
If you’re capacity to love is at a low capacity, it’s probably stems back to you not being loved like you should of been
Maybe something terrible happened to you or maybe you had to walk through a terrible time
I am so sorry if that is you today
There is one person that can love you like no-one else can
He has a deep/infinite love for all of us here today
He is Jesus Christ
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(Show present to unwrap)
I’m so thankful this morning that God didn’t keep his love in a box just for himself
He could of
But he didn’t
He unwrapped his infinite love and has lavished it over us
(Unwrap a present)
He gave us a love that saves, leads, and dwells with us
This Christmas season, as you spend time together with family and friends
Love Well, have fun spending time together
As you eat some wonderful food and as you open gifts
Purpose for this next year 2025 to
Love Well
Serve Well
To be like Jesus to a world that is lost and dying
Thank you for being here today
I hope this Christmas season is the best ever
Prayer
