This week Pastor Stephen delivered a Valentine's weekend message about love that applies not just to couples, but to all who call themselves followers of Christ. We looked at 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and looked at: "Love Defined."
Here's the big thing: When our love looks like Christ's love we will have found true love.
The first thing Pastor Stephen noted was that Love is of the utmost importance. The reason for this is that love will always be around. Love directs what we do and keeps our actions and thoughts in line with Christ.
Love is what compelled God to sacrifice his Son to save us from the eternal death that is the consequence of the wrong actions each of us does. And love, when all else has gone, will be what encapsulates the heavenly relationship we have with God for eternity.
When our love looks like Christ's love we will have found true love.
Secondly, we looked at what Paul (the author of 1 Corinthians) tells us Love is not. He says it is not envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, self-seeking, irritable, resentful or happy in wrongdoing.
Third, we looked at what Paul tells us Love is. Love is patient, kind, excited at the truth, it bears the spiritual difficulties of others, love is full of faith, confident in God and his promises, and love is inextinguishable.
Pastor Stephen then encouraged the congregation to replace the word "love" in verses 4-7 with their name and to think about how that felt. Did it seem odd or natural? Out of place, or normal? The areas where it felt odd may just be the areas you are not yet living regularly in love.
Be sure to catch the full sermon on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/abundant-springs-sermons/id622648222