Love – A Constant Invitation and Opportunity
Have you ever noticed when you get a new car, suddenly a lot of other people seem to have the same car? It isn’t because everyone decided to buy that model of car at the same time you did; it’s that now, because you have one, you notice the other cars like yours. Last week, after writing the post on love, I feel I’m seeing examples of God’s love for me and ways to love others in so many different ways. They are everywhere, kind of like those cars just like mine.
Last Sunday, I was listening to Pastor Josh Moody from College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. Guess what? He spoke on John 13:31-35. He preached a rich, deep message on Jesus’ new commandment to love one another. There is so much to share and learn from this passage and his message. I know I will be listening to it a few more times, but I wanted to share a few highlights from my first time hearing it:
- What is love? What does it look like? Good questions to think about.
- The extent we are able to love others is proportionate to the extent we understand and magnify what Jesus did for us on the cross.
- This isn’t a, I do something for you, you do something for me, flashy or showy kind of love. It is much more. It is an attainable, sacrificial love.
- The key is John 13:34: “as I have loved you.” Notice the passage doesn’t say as I love you, but as I loved you. How did he love us? He went to the cross.
- This type of sacrificial love is how we demonstrate God’s glory to others.
Words fail me in describing how this message is impacting me, but I pray it changes me. There is so much room to grow. I hope the questions and few comments encourage and challenge you in loving God and loving others.
If you’d like to hear the whole message in context and get even more, you can find it here: https://www.college-church.org/av_item.php?avid=140