Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon explores the profound, active, and redeeming love of God as manifested in His actions, the birth of Jesus, and the mystery of incarnation.
Good morning, beloved family of God! I greet you with the joy and peace that comes from our Father above, who loves us with an unfathomable, unending love. It is this divine love that we are gathered here to marvel at, to thank God for, and to learn more about. To quote the great Christian theologian, J.I. Packer, "There's no greater discovery than seeing God as the author of your destiny." And it is this God, the author of our destiny, who has authored a love story so profound, so beautiful, that it has the power to reshape our lives.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Isaiah, chapter 63, verses 7 through 9. "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."
What a powerful passage! It paints a vivid picture of a God whose love for His people is not just a passing emotion, but an active, saving, redeeming force. A love that carries us through our darkest days, and lifts us up when we stumble and fall.
God's love is not just an emotion, but an action. It's not just something He feels, but something He does. In the passage, we see that God's love is a saving love. When His people were in trouble, He didn't just stand by and watch. He stepped in. He became their Saviour. His love doesn't just sympathize, but saves.
But God's love doesn't stop at saving and redemptive. In the passage, we see that God's love is a redeeming love. He didn't just rescue His people from their affliction, He redeemed them. He turned their situation around. He turned their sorrow into joy, their mourning into dancing. This is a profound demonstration of God's love.
God's love is also a carrying love. God didn't just save and redeem His people, He carried them. He bore their burdens. He lifted them up.
Finally, God's love is a steadfast love. God's love for His people was a constant, unchanging love that did not depend on circumstances. It was a love that lasted all the days of old. This is a reassuring demonstration of God's love. It's a love that doesn't just save, redeem, and carry, but lasts.
In the manger, we see the divine love of God taking on human form ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO