WHAT LOVING GOD WILL DO
Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Knowing about God and Knowing Him personally is not the same. Let’s see how this distinction applies when considering some of God’s attributes.
• The thought that God is present everywhere is staggering. But to be aware of His presence in times of need brings comfort and hope.
• The thought that God knows everything is mind-boggling. But to have the confidence that no detail of our lives escapes His attention is to enjoy a peace that endures through every trial.
• The thought that the Lord is all-powerful makes us marvel at His greatness. But to have Him actually work in, through, and for us encourages us to relax in His mighty arms.
• The thought that God never changes is a reassuring truth. But to commit ourselves to the care of this never-changing One is to know the stability of His faithfulness.
• The thought that God is love is wonderful to contemplate. But to know Him as a loving Redeemer through personal faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, brings the joy of sins forgiven.
Loving God is essential. Luke 10:27 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”
Loving God is voluntary. Revelation 2:4 says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Notice that they LEFT their LOVE. Their love did not leave them. If you have lost your love, it is still where you left it. It didn’t go anywhere.
Loving God fills the void sin has created. Genesis 3:9 “The LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Loving God is a commitment we are to keep. The first commandment is to love God with all your heart. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t get the cart ahead of the horse. Love God first, and you will find it easier to love others next.
#1. Loving God makes it is easier to love other believers.
1 John 4:20-21 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
1 John 3:11 “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” v 23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”
If you love God, realize what you have in common with other believers.
• We have a common family, so LOVE them! 1 John 3:2
• We have common faults, so LOVE them! Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
• We have a common future, so LOVE them! Revelation 7:9-17 “After this I beheld, and, lo,…”
#2. Loving God makes it easier to love your family.
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” [5:25-28] “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” [5:33] “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
#3. Loving God makes it is easier to love the Unloving.
Luke 6:27-29 “I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.”
Offences will come!
Matthew 18:7 “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
You can do this by identifying with Christ. If you love the Lord Jesus Christ more than you love yourself, think about how HE feels about your critics.
• Jesus died for them, so LOVE them! John 3:16
• Jesus desires their salvation, so LOVE them!
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,..?”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
• Jesus is depending on you to reach them, so LOVE them! Parable of the Great Supper.
Luke 14:16-23 “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
CONCLUSION: Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
MORE LOVE TO THEE, O CHRIST
More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
