A
man in his middle years was on a Caribbean cruise. On the first day out he
noticed an attractive woman about his age who smiled at him in a friendly way
as he passed her on the deck, which pleased him. That night he managed to get
seated at the same table with her for dinner. As the conversation developed,
he commented that he had seen her on the deck that day and he had appreciated
her friendly smile. When she heard this she smiled and commented, "Well,
the reason I smiled was that when I saw you I was immediately struck by your
strong resemblance to my third husband."
At this he perked up his ears and
said, "Oh, how many times have you been married?"
She looked down at her plate, smiled demurely, and answered,
"Twice."
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations
Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 290.
The world will not care what
we know until they know we care.
Gene Barron
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House
A man was trying to read a serious book, but his little boy kept
interrupting him. He would lean against his knees and say, "Daddy, I love
you." The father would give him a pat and say rather absently, "Yes,
Son, I love you too," and he would kind of give him a little push away so
he could keep on reading. But this didn't satisfy the boy, and finally he ran
to his father and said "I love you, Daddy," and he jumped up on his
lap and threw his arms around him and gave him a big squeeze, explaining,
"And I've just got to DO something about it!" That's it--as we grow
in love, we aren't content with small-talk love, or pat-on-the-head love. We
want to get involved and "do something about it."
--James
S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc,
1988), p. 329.
What do you love?
Scripture
Text:
Gal. 5:16 So I say,
live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the
sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that
you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of
rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like
this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us
not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
What is Love?
What is the spiritual gift
of Love?
Lexicon Greek: agape {ag-ah'-pay}
AV - love , charity , dear , charitably,
1) brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence
Why is Love the first of
the Fruit? Love
(Agape) is the motor that powers us to be who God wants us to be.
God is Love.
1John 4:7 Dear friends, let
us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born
of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God
is love.
A New Commandment.
John
13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another."
The First and Greatest
Commandment.
Matt
22:37 Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
The Greatest of all Fruit
and the very essence of God.
1Cor 13:13 (NIV) And now
these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
John 15:12 (NIV) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved
you. 13 Greater love has no one
than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if
you do what I command.
Some thoughts about love:
1.
God loves you.
How do you know? He died for you. Agape
love is love that acts in behalf of the one who is loved.
He acted on our behalf.
2.
God’s love: Do you have God?
Do you have God’s love? Agape
love is a product of the presence of God in your life.
He will work through you in behalf of those who are in your life.
3.
Agape love is a decision you make on behalf of another.
Agape love is the result of giving yourself to God and giving yourself
to others.
4.
Agape love is seen in your relationships to others.
Love of God and love of others are the same in the scriptures.
5.
Agape love acts to help others even when it means you will be
sacrificed. It is tough love that
speaks up and acts out in relationships so that those who are loved will be
shown the right way. The right
way is the way of life; it is the way of the Lord.
6.
Agape love is given to all even your enemies.
Luke 6:27 (NIV) "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you.
Do you have the love of God? Do you have God? Make
a decision to love others. Will you love one another?