Put on … love
Let us contemplate Divine love.
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We ought to just stop and think about God’s love!
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Romans 8:35-39 – This is not a shallow love!
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Isaiah 59:14-17 – God’s own arm brought salvation!
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The ultimate expression of that merciful love was the crucifixion of His Son.
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Romans 5:6-8; Titus 3:3-7 – We didn’t deserve God’s love.
Let us reciprocate Divine love.
- I John 4:19 – Why do we love?
- I John 4:20-21 – What does loving God include?
- Matthew 22:36-38; Ephesians 2:4-5 – We can love God back, but on in the same way He loves us. Ephesians 6:24
- One way to love God back is to praise, honor, and show gratitude to Him. Psalms 29:1-2; Luke 17:15-18
- I John 5:2-3 – Loving God includes keeping His commandments.
- Revelation 2:4 – The church in Ephesus had left their first love.
Let us imitate Divine love.
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I John 4:11 – God’s love for us should transform the way we live our lives.
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I John 3:14-18 – Jesus’ sacrifice should motivate us to love our brothers.
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Luke 15
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John 13:34-35; 15:12-13 – Jesus used Himself as the example of love. The apostles did not have perfect moral character!
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Love is a decision we make, a “direction of the will.” Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 5:6-8
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Some thoughts to help us develop love:
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John 5:28-29 – This person has an eternal soul.
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Matthew 6:14-15; 7:2; 25:40 – God is watching!
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I John 4:7-21 – Become an expert at love like God.
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Let us prove to be neighbors.
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My job is simply to love my neighbor, and I need to be a neighbor to everyone!