What's Love Got to Do With It?

Yesterday was my turn up to bat as Rick is gone on sabbatical. The message was about becoming a church of warm fellowship. Last night at Contagious we talked about love. Here is a little bit from both studies combined into one:

What do we know about love and our responsibility to be people of love?

Love commanded by Christ –

John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

As we know commands are not optional. So when we do not love other believers in the body of Christ we are not obeying the very words of Jesus Christ.

Love is a witness to others -

John 13:35

³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Not everyone who walks through the doors of Nags Head Church on Sunday morning has taken the step of faith in having a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Our love for each other shows others that we are following Jesus Christ. This is why it is so important that we love each other at NHC. There are many who come here to check the whole God thing out. They are looking for answers. They are seeking to find the truth and fill the void in their life. When they see Christ-like love in us they will recognize that we are truly following Jesus Christ.

-Love is Evidence

I John 4:7,8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Do you love other believers? This love that comes from God and a relationship with him? Verse 8 is pretty clear, if the love of God doesn’t exist then the knowledge of God and who he really is does not exist. Love is the proof that we have a relationship with God the Father.

Love is a choice

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails.

Love is not a feeling. Love is a choice, a decision. Read the above description of love and we don't see feelings or emotions we see choices. Choosing to be patient with another, showing kindness, etc. Those actions that come with love are not emotionally based but take a willful decision.

"I'm not in love with her anymore." It's not that they fell out of love it is because the choice is made to not love anymore.

If we truly loved other believers as we are commanded to, if we truly loved those we live life with as we are commanded to, if we truly loved those in our world around us as we are commanded to our churches would not be able to contain the people who would be drawn by the love of Christ.

Who are you having a hard time loving today? What are you going to do about it?