Holy Love
Notes
Transcript
Handout
So, how do we live between Advents so people will believe the Gospel- the Good News about Jesus? What’s the one thing that would cause an unbelieving world to believe in and trust in the love of God? We could make an extensive list, but at the top it’s got to be love. Scripture tells us that of all the virtues the greatest is love.
So yes, love wins - but what kind of love? See, the world says, ‘love is love.’ The world says love is whatever you want it to be or it's nothing more than an emotion or an evolutionary instinct. The world says love is primarily about you.
But God says, “No. That’s not love.” So, what is love? For starters, Scripture uses specific words for particular types of love. In Greek, we have philēo, ēros, orgē, and then agapē (Hebrew equivalent ʾā·hǎḇ). It’s this ʾā·hǎḇ or agapē love that helps people believe in Jesus.
Consider this - The apostle John wrote,
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Wait a minute. Whoever loves has been born of God – have a saving relationship with God? That doesn’t make sense because we know people who are not Christians (no relationship), yet they are loving and kind. And we know Christians (know God) who are not very loving. So what does John mean? The truth is, everyone is capable of loving, but
Only those who know Jesus are capable of loving like Jesus.
Capable is the key word.
You see,
There is something unique about God’s love, which means there should be something unique about how Christians love.
God's love calls us to a higher standard.
So, what makes God’s love, this agape love unique?
Video
Let’s do this -
God is holy and God is love. Agapē this is holy love.
Holy love chooses - it is a choice - not a feeling.
Example - no one feels like changing dirty diapers, especially as odor is added to the “concoction,” and even more so when the “concoction” gets bigger and messier. But because of love and necessity we change dirty diapers. Let’s be honest, anyone can love that way, Christian or not. So, there must be more to this holy love that God expects from His people.
What else?
Holy love chooses to do what is best (beneficial) for others ….
Holy love seeks the wellbeing of others – regardless of who they are. We’re talking about love that is extended to anyone. Now we’re starting to distinguish holy love from worldly love.
Holy love chooses what is best for others, not necessarily what feels best for me. Of course, this is not always easy, comfortable, popular or well-received. Some babies laugh and smile while changing their diaper, but others are more challenging, they resist, fight back, and even poop on you while trying to love them. Follow me?
Still, Holy love is more than choosing what’s best.
Holy love chooses to do what is best (beneficial) for others without expecting a ROI ….
What’s a ROI?
ROI - Return on Investment.
Think of economics - prior to investing money, a person evaluates the anticipated or expected return. If the expected return is favorable (put in $500 and get $1000 back) – you make the investment. If, however, the ROI is not favorable, withhold the investment (put in $500 but get $10 back – not worth my time and effort).
Sadly, this is how many people love – especially the world – always asking what’s in it for me. People who “love” this way will evaluate the expected return. If the ROI seems favorable, then they love. If the ROI is not favorable, then they withhold.
This is where personal motive and honest self-evaluation are critical. Do we change the dirty diaper merely because we don't want to smell poo-poo (about us), or because it's what's best for the baby (about others)? Do we change the dirty diaper expecting something in return – or do we do it knowing the baby will not say thank you?
Now we’re starting to uncover what this agape holy love is. You mean there’s more? Yes.
Holy love chooses to do what is best (beneficial) for others without expecting a ROI because all people are valuable (Imago Dei).
Now we’re really seeing the separation between God’s love and worldly love. Holy love has nothing to do with what people have done, not done, where they come from, color of skin, social status, political party – etc. etc. etc. This tells us that
Holy love is not selective.
Look again at 1 John 4.
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Propitiation = payment / atonement – Jesus paid the cost of our sins with His life.
How did God love the world? He didn't give us a little sticky note – “I love you.” No. He took action with His own life. Jesus left His throne in Heaven to become the Lamb of God – to become our sin so that we, the guilty, could be forgiven and set free.
God’s holy love, through Christ chose to do what was best for us without expecting a ROI because all are valuable to God. What do I mean? When did God love us? When we were unlovable and had nothing to offer Him in return. That’s Rom. 5 – He loved us while we were sinners. Why did God love? Because that’s what God does – He loves. And so He sent His Son, Jesus, to be the Lamb, a sacrifice for all humanity that through Jesus and only Jesus we could have new life and be born again. So, holy love is a choice, it’s not selective – it’s for all, and
Holy love is sacrificial.
Holy love is more than that.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Holy love is even more than that. Come on! What else is there?
Holy love is supernatural.
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
I do not have that kind of love in me. That kind of love must come from an outside source. That kind of love must be supernaturally empowered. I must pray for it, seek it, practice it, and allow the Holy Spirit to fill me so I can love like Jesus. But Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me you can do nothing. But if you remain in my love and obey me, I’ll teach you about holy love and how to love others like I do. I will show you how to choose to do what is best for others without need for a Return on Investment because all people are valuable.” I think Jesus is saying, “If you hang out with Me every day, I will teach you how to live between Advents?”
What is God’s Spirit saying to you?
Admit. Believe. Commit. // Repent. Surrender. Love.
Advent Prayer
Congregation: Lord, make us an instrument of thy peace;
Pastor: That where there is hatred,
Congregation: may we bring love;
Pastor: That where there is wrong,
Congregation: may we bring a spirit of forgiveness.
Pastor: That where there is discord,
Congregation: may we bring harmony;
Pastor: That where there is error,
Congregation: may we bring truth;
Pastor: That where there is doubt,
Congregation: may we bring faith.
Pastor: That where there is despair,
Congregation: may we bring hope;
Pastor: That where there are shadows,
Congregation: may we bring light;
Pastor: That where there is sadness,
Congregation: may we bring joy.
Pastor: Lord, grant that we may seek to comfort, rather than to be comforted;
Congregation: To understand rather than to be understood;
Pastor: To love rather than to be loved; For it is in giving that we are received;
Congregation: It is by forgiving that we are forgiven.
All: And it is by dying that we awaken to eternal life. Amen.
Adapted from Francis of Assisi, Italian monk (1181–1226)