Put on … love

  • Colossians 3:14

Let us contemplate Divine love.

  • We ought to just stop and think about God’s love!

    • I John 4:10

    • I John 3:1

    • Romans 8:35-39 – This is not a shallow love!

    • Isaiah 59:14-17 – God’s own arm brought salvation!

  • The ultimate expression of that merciful love was the crucifixion of His Son.

    • John 3:16

    • Romans 5:6-8; Titus 3:3-7 – We didn’t deserve God’s love.

Let us reciprocate Divine love.

  • I John 14:19 – 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.

  • I John 4:11 – God’s love for us should transform the way we live our lives.

  • I John 3:14-18 – Jesus’ sacrifice should motivate us to love our brothers.

  • Luke 15

  • John 13:34-35; 15:12-13 – Jesus used Himself as the example of love. The apostles did not have perfect moral character!

  • Love is a decision we make, a “direction of the will.” Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 5:6-8

  • Some thoughts to help us develop love:

    • John 5:28-29 – This person has an eternal soul.

    • Matthew 6:14-15; 7:2; 25:40 – God is watching!

    • I John 4:7-21 – Become an expert at love like God.

Let us prove to be neighbors.

  • Luke 10:25-29, 36

  • Mark 5:43-48

    • Matthew 7:6

    • Mark 3:5

    • Matthew 18:15

    • I Thessalonians 5:14

  • My job is simply to love my neighbor, and I need to be a neighbor to everyone!