Jesus said, “If it is my will… What is that to you?” (John 21:22) “You follow me!”
Our love is not enough… I have not loved you with my whole heart (from our confession on Sundays). This is the honesty that we all need. Powerful at church when we confess together, and Jesus is enough to forgive us of our sins!
How to define love?
- not an abstract, feel-good feeling
- not tolerance
- Love through the cross
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
- 1 John 4:16b-19, especially God is love… We love because he first loved us.
- Die to self (Galatians 2:20) and live for Christ (Philippians 1:21)
- Love is in action…
- God so loved the world that he gave his only son. (John 3:16)
Following Jesus will make me into someone who can love like Jesus does. (Matthew 4:19) To love one another (John 13:34).
“Love is a work of God.” – Pastor Ben Spaulding