Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to this sacred gathering where we seek to draw closer to our Creator, to understand His word, and to let His love fill our hearts. Today, we turn our hearts and minds towards one of the most profound, powerful, and pivotal passages in the Holy Scriptures. A passage that speaks of a force so potent, it has the power to transform lives, mend broken hearts, and bridge the deepest divides. It is the purest essence of our Almighty God, and it is the one thing He asks us to emulate above all else. It is love - divine love.

Defining Divine Love

We gather here today, friends, with hearts open and minds ready to receive the teachings of our Lord. We're here to understand the profound nature of divine love, as described in the Holy Scriptures. This love, the love that God has for each one of us, is unlike any human love we might experience. It's a love that transcends our understanding, a love that is pure, selfless, and unending. As we seek to understand this divine love, let's remember that it's not just about knowledge. It's about transformation. It's about letting this love change us, shape us, and make us more like our Creator.

Now, let's turn our attention to the Scripture that we read earlier, from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. This passage provides us with a beautiful and profound description of what divine love looks like. It's not just a list of attributes. It's a portrait of God Himself, for God is love.

A. The first thing we learn from this passage is that love is patient. Patience is not just about waiting. It's about waiting with a good attitude. It's about enduring difficult situations without complaining. It's about being slow to anger and quick to forgive. This is the kind of patience that God shows us. Even when we sin, even when we turn away from Him, He waits for us. He waits with open arms, ready to welcome us back into His love.

B. Next, we learn that love is kind. Kindness is not just about being nice. It's about being considerate, compassionate, and caring. It's about looking out for the needs of others and doing what we can to meet those needs. This is the kind of kindness that God shows us. He doesn't just care about us. He cares for us. He provides for our needs, comforts us in our sorrows, and heals us in our brokenness.

C. We also learn from this passage that love does not envy, it does not boast, and it is not proud. These are all ways of saying that love is not self-centered. It's not about getting what we want. It's not about showing off what we have. It's not about thinking we're better than others. This is the kind of love that God shows us. He doesn't love us because of what we can give Him. He doesn't love us because of what we can do for Him. He loves us simply because we are His.

D. Finally, we learn that love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. These are all ways of saying that love is forgiving. It's about letting go of grudges, forgiving those who hurt us, and seeking reconciliation. This is the kind of love that God shows us. Even when we sin against Him, He forgives us. He doesn't hold our sins against us. Instead, He removes them as far as the east is from the west.

Demonstrating Divine Love

As we immerse ourselves in the profound wisdom of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, we are drawn to the essence of divine love ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO