Emulate the Love of God
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 116 viewsNotes
Transcript
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God’s love is:
God’s love is:
We know that God is Love. That Jesus Loved us, as God Loves Him, and that We are to love one another as Jesus loved us.
We know that If we do not love, we do not know God - for God is Love
So, what does this love look like? To know that, would be to begin to understand what God looks like.
Some people think that love is “nice”
Some people think that love is “agreeing” with others
Some people think that love is never arguing
Some people think that love is giving people what they ask for.
We can see God doing all of these things, and Jesus doing likewise
but we can also see Him doing the opposite at times.
So, let’s talk about Love- Godly love.
The way God’s love is displayed must fit the circumstance
Tough Love
Tough Love
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
The Lord disciplines his children because he loves them and wants the best for them. He is looking out for their good (see Rom. 8:28 NIV).
Consider the examples of the bible
David accepted correction, and found grace
King Saul made excuses, and rebelled - and lost everything
We see God’s correction toward those He loves — it is for our good
We should thank God for his discipline because he is omniscient.
God knows the secrets of our hearts
He knows where our errors lead if we are not corrected
There is a way that seems right --- but ends in death
how hard it is for those who cannot accept correction, and consequences
We can emulate God’s love by displaying tough love also. We should discipline our children with firmness and love and work courageously for the good of others.
So many people these days believe that love can only be displayed by agreeing, and ignoring wrongs
But we can show God’s love be speaking he truth to sin and error
Reprove, rebuke, exhort, — this is Love.
Too many people these days, as In Jeremiah's day, are willing to make people comfortable in their sins — that is not love
Ezekiel was told that if he did not blow the trumpet - and warn people of their sin
that their blood would be on his head
and they would still die in their sins
But James said, whoever turns a sinner from his errors has saved a soul from death --- that is love.
Love must be strong.
Love is not weak.
Tender Love
Tender Love
16 Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good;
Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
God’s love is not only tough but it is also tender. He cares, understands, and “is touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb. 4:15).
Thank God for His tender mercy. Just becasue love is strong does not mean it cannot be tender.
God’s mercies are renewed each day. His compassions they fail not.
God’s love, mercy, and grace are extended to all people in all places, at all times.
As He told the woman in adultery not to sin, He chose not to condemn her.
As he told the rich young ruler to sell all that he had - the bible says He loved him.
It is not the will of God that any should perish -
God’s compassion reaches to you right now where you are.
Emulate God’s tender love.
Not only must we have tough love - but we also must have tender love
If we are to love as He loved, we must love deeply, tenderly,
Heed his words:
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Trustworthy Love
Trustworthy Love
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3).
Today’s society is sadly lacking when it comes to trustworthy love.
So many people who “love” you today will hate you tomorrow
People will pretend to be your friend untilt he first time they disagree with you — and then say “and you claim to be a Christian”
And so many Christians, claim to love, but only if it doesn’t cost too much
Yet God’s love is without limits, and eternal - yesterday, today and forever
God’s love is trustworthy. He keeps his promises (see Eph. 2:7).
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
We should be steadfast and dependable also, loving “in deed and in truth”
Whether we find ourselves needing to display the tough and firm side of love, or the compassionate, and tender side of love--
we must always check inside that we are in fact in love
we must also be trustworthy - dependable in lov e- that we can Love as He loves
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Triumphant Love
Triumphant Love
“Charity [love] never faileth” (1 Cor. 13:8).
People, possessions, pleasures, and popularity fail, but God’s triumphant love never fails.
If you walk in love, you will walk in victory
That is the way to be more than a conqueror
If you Love as He Loved, you cannot fail
Before we can emulate God’s triumphant love, we need to possess his love. We must totally commit ourselves to God to be filled with his love.
Is Jesus Christ the Lord in your life?
God’s love is triumphant because “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). His love brings victory now and eternally.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.