Good morning,
This week we will look at love from God’s perspective.
Valentine’s day promotes the love between couples. It is relational and centered on the world’s system of love. Sometimes physical, sexual, and immoral. Gifts, flowers, candy, are all given to the one we love.
God’s love is different.
God is love. He demonstrates His love. He gives His love. He shows us examples of love. He explains that His love is opened to all. He defines love.
Join us this week as we explore the God of love.
GOD IS LOVE
1) God is Love
I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Gen 1 In the beginning God
Gen 2 Made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 3 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Gen 37-50 Joseph In all Joseph’s adversity, God loved him and cared for him
Exodus God loved his children Israel and provided a way of escape from the Egyptians
Judges 2,6 Rahab was a harlot but God loved her and saved her and her family
Ruth Ruth was a Moabite
2 Sam 11 David had a man killed
1 Kings 11 Solomon disobeyed God
Acts 9 Saul, persecutor of the church on the road to Emmaus
2) How do we respond to God’s love?
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
3) Definition of God’s Love
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: (1Corinthians 13:4-8a)
The following is a description of agape love, also called “charity” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13). This paraphrase is based upon research of the Greek and English words and their meanings in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.
LOVE SUFFERETH LONG. God’s love has a tolerance for and endures trying situations and persons beyond an average standard. God’s love is patient.
LOVE IS KIND. God’s love is of a friendly nature, generous, hospitable, warm-hearted, and good. God’s love is charitable and helpful, showing sympathy and understanding for others. It is considerate, forbearing, tolerant, courteous, and thoughtful, desiring only to promote another’s welfare. It is generous, liberal, and beneficial, demonstrating itself in kindly acts.
LOVE ENVIETH NOT. God’s love does not resent another’s good fortune or desire to have what is his. God’s love is not jealous and does not deprive another of what he has.
LOVE VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF. God’s love does not boast and brag or abound with self-praise. It is not vain nor proud.
LOVE IS NOT PUFFED UP. God’s love is not high-minded or puffed up with pride.
LOVE DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY. God’s love does not act, react, function, or perform in a manner which is in bad taste, improper, or in violation of what is right.
LOVE SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. God’s love does not demand its own way.
LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. God’s love is not easily annoyed or incited to anger or resentment.
LOVE THINKETH NO EVIL. God’s love does not reason about or reflect upon that which causes or constitutes misfortune, suffering, difficulty, or the like. God’s love does not ponder upon wickedness.
LOVE REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY. God’s love feels joyful when right, sincerity, integrity, honesty, and truth prevail.
LOVE BEARETH ALL THINGS. God’s love makes it possible to withstand all stress and difficulty. Because God is love, He supports and carries on His own Person whatever is placed upon Him. God’s love protects, covers, and keeps off anything which threatens the benefit and welfare of another. God’s love holds back, refrains, and is tolerant and patient in all circumstances.
LOVE BELIEVETH ALL THINGS. God’s love puts faith in others, believing the best of everyone (without criticizing or looking for fault).
LOVE HOPETH ALL THINGS. God’s love persists in hoping, against all odds, in confidence and expectation of fulfillment of that which is promised.
LOVE ENDURETH ALL THINGS. God’s love causes one to carry on through, despite hardships.
LOVE NEVER FAILETH. God’s love never proves insufficient in duration or is unsuccessful in effectiveness. Love will never disappoint or prove undependable. God’s love goes on forever and will never come to an end.
Credit due to: http://www.krowtracts.com/agape.html
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com