Sunday, June 7, 2015

June 8, 2015

For as long as you can remember you have sung "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so".

But what does that love look like?

What should you expect from it?

Those questions will be answered by our Summer Sermon Series entitled "Summer Love". This series is a study of the I Corinthians 13:4-8.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Loves never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will ceases; where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away." I Corinthians 13:4-8

Paul, in writing to the Church in Corinth, offers a detailed description of God's divine love. The Greek work used to describe this is "agape" love. Unlike the English language which has just one primary word for love and context and sentence construction define its interpretation, the Greeks had  a specific word for romantic love and one for friendship love. "Agape" love is the love that originates in the nature of God and expresses His character. This supernatural love can only be given by God because only He possesses it completely. When John wrote that "God is love" this is what he meant!

So, when you study these four rich verses you not only gain understanding of His love but you get a glimpse of His character! in other words, there is no difference in Who God is and how God loves! When you say "God is love" you are also saying "this is how God loves".

I invite you to meditate on this portion of Scripture! Ask the Spirit to help you look deeply into the heart of God and learn how He loves. Let His love capture you and His nature thrill you.

And, I urge you to be as honest and objective as you can measuring how you love compared to how He loves.