Love

"Devotion to God finds its outward expression in loving one another."  (The Fruitful Life, p. 47)  Another way to state this is our devotion to God, the creator, shows itself in how we love people, who are created in God's image.

This past Sunday, Mike Guest taught on...

In the study notes for Galatians 5:22, 23, the MacArthur study Bible states, “One of the several Greek words for love, AGAPE, is the love of choice, referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction, or a familial bond, but to the respect, devotion, and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service.”

Each week during this summer study, we want to ask some questions to get us thinking about the mark for that week.  

Here are some LOVE-related questions.

• How does the world you live in today define and use the word LOVE?
• How does the Bible, God's Word, define and use the word LOVE?
• What are ways you have seen love exhibited in a wrong way?
• What are ways you have seen love exhibited in the right way?
  
• In what ways could you improve how you show love to others?
• In what ways could our church improve in how we show love to others?

John 3:16, a verse many people know, is often used to show how great God's love is for us.

First John 3:16 is a great verse that shows God's love and our response to that love.

"By this we know love, that he laid his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." (emphasis mine)

Jesus showed us what love is.
Because of this, we ought to do something.

This kind of love, spiritual love, comes from God.  We are able to love HIM and OTHERS because He first loved us.  This love comes from a heart that has been changed by God, the Holy Spirit.

First Corinthians 13:4-7, tells us what love is.
Here is that list along with a brief explanation of each attribute.

PATIENT - VERY slow to anger. Long tempered.
KIND - Gives benefit to others. Grace-filled.
NOT JEALOUS - Not after “showy gifts”. All one body.
NOT BOASTUL - “Wind Bag” Elevates others over self.
NOT ARROGANT - “Puff like a bellows”. Listens vs. talking.
NOT RUDE - Not Immoral. Yields personal rights.
NOT SEEKING ITS OWN - Others first. Self-lessness.
NOT PROVOKED - Controls sudden outbursts.
NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WRONGS - Holds no record of wrongs.
NOT REJOICING IN SIN - Takes no pleasure in the sin of others.
REJOICES IN TRUTH - Love is honest and hates lies.
BEARS ALL THINGS - Covers and protects.
BELIEVES ALL THINGS - Optimistic, looking for the good.
HOPES ALL THINGS - Never gives up. Grace again.
ENDURES ALL THINGS - Will not quit. Can’t be killed.

Jesus' prayer in John 17 is filled with love language for God and his disciples.

²⁰ “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

²² The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; ²³ I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. ²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

²⁵ “Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; ²⁶ and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

Some Additional Resources:

• J.C. Ryle's Practical Religion.  Specifically chapter 7 on Love.
• Help!  People at Church Are Driving Me Crazy podcast.  "Differences and disagreements are often not a sign that things have gone tragically wrong, but instead gloriously right.  After all, a church should be centered on Christ alone, not...."

For all the Marks of Christian posts, click HERE