Love That Never Loses Faith
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Introduction:
Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ. I am so glad to see you all here today. Thank you for joining us in this worship service.
Today, I want to share with you a message about love that never loses faith. Love is the most important thing in life. It is the greatest commandment, the greatest gift, and the greatest virtue. But love is not easy. It is not a feeling, but a choice. It is not a noun, but a verb. It is not passive, but active. Love requires faith. Faith in God, faith in ourselves, and faith in others.
We live in a world that is full of challenges, changes, and uncertainties. We face many difficulties, disappointments, and dangers. We encounter many temptations, trials, and troubles. We often feel afraid, anxious, or worried. We sometimes doubt, despair, or discourage. How can we love in such a world? How can we love God, ourselves, and others? How can we love without losing faith?
The family is the first and most fundamental community of faith. It is in the family that we learn to love God and one another, to pray, to forgive, to serve, and to witness. The family is the domestic church, where the Gospel is lived and transmitted.
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
1. Trusting in God’s Unfailing Love - 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
This verse tells us that faith, hope and love are the three essential qualities of a Christian life. They are the foundation of our relationship with God and with others. They are the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. They are the signs of our salvation and sanctification. But among these three, love is the greatest. Why? Because love is the nature of God Himself. God is love. He loves us with an unfailing love that never ends.
God’s love for us is not based on our performance, our appearance, or our achievements. It is not dependent on our feelings, our circumstances, or our choices. It is not affected by our mistakes, our weaknesses, or our failures. God’s love for us is based on His grace, His mercy, and His faithfulness. It is dependent on His character, His power, and His promises. It is unaffected by our sins, our doubts, or our fears.
When we trust in God’s love for us, we can face any challenge with courage and calmness. We can overcome any difficulty with joy and gratitude. We can handle any situation with confidence and wisdom. We can enjoy any blessing with humility and generosity. Trusting in God’s love for us gives us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), joy that fills our hearts (Romans 15:13), confidence that makes us bold (Hebrews 4:16), and security that makes us safe (Romans 8:38-39).
Let us trust in God’s love more fully and deeply today. Let us believe that He loves us more than we can imagine or comprehend (Ephesians 3:18-19). Let us surrender our lives to His will and His way (Proverbs 3:5-6). Let us rely on His grace and His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). Let us rest in His presence and His promises (Matthew 11:28-30).
2. Strengthening Marriages through Faith in God - 2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”
This verse tells us that faith is the way we live as Christians. Faith is not just a belief, but a lifestyle. Faith is not just a doctrine, but a practice. Faith is not just a conviction, but a commitment. Faith is not just seeing, but trusting. Faith is not just knowing, but doing. Faith is not just sight, but vision.
Faith in God is essential for a strong and healthy marriage because marriage is not just a human institution, but a divine institution. Marriage is not just a social contract, but a sacred covenant. Marriage is not just a natural relationship, but a supernatural relationship. Marriage is not just a physical union, but a spiritual union. Marriage is not just a temporal bond, but an eternal bond.
When we have faith in God, we can overcome challenges, conflicts, and crises in our marriages with grace and love. We can forgive each other as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). We can communicate with each other with honesty and respect (Ephesians 4:25). We can compromise with each other with humility and gentleness (Ephesians 4:2). We can grow together with patience and perseverance (Ephesians 4:3).
Let us strengthen our marriages through faith in God today. Let us trust that He is the source of love, grace, wisdom, and power in our relationships (1 John 4:7-8). Let us seek His will for our marriages (Ephesians 5:17). Let us study His word for our marriages (Ephesians 5:25-26). Let us invite His presence into our marriages (Ephesians 5:18-21).
3. Love’s Faithfulness in the Midst of Doubt - Hebrews 10:23
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
This verse tells us that love’s faithfulness is based on God’s faithfulness. He who promised is faithful. He never lies, breaks His word, or changes His mind. He always keeps His covenant with us. He always fulfills His promises to us. He always remembers His mercy toward us.
Love’s faithfulness is not dependent on our feelings, our circumstances, or our choices because they are often unstable, unreliable, and unpredictable. They can change from day to day, from moment to moment, from situation to situation. They can be influenced by many factors beyond our control or understanding. They can be affected by many emotions within our hearts or minds.
When we have love’s faithfulness in our lives, we can overcome doubt, despair, and discouragement with hope, courage, and perseverance. We can hope for the future because God has prepared it for us (Jeremiah 29:11). We can face the present because God is with us (Isaiah 41:10). We can learn from the past because God has redeemed it for us (Romans 8:28).
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. Let us remember God’s promises to us, such as:
- "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
- "I have loved you with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3)
- "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." (Ezekiel 36:26)
Let us recall God's deeds for us, such as:
- He created us in His image and likeness. (Genesis 1:27)
- He redeemed us by His blood and grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
- He sanctified us by His Spirit and truth. (John 17:17)
Let us rejoice in God's character, such as:
- He is good and faithful. (Psalm 100:5)
- He is merciful and compassionate. (Psalm 103:8)
- He is holy and righteous. (Psalm 99:3)
4. Experiencing the Power of Faith in Love - Hebrews 11:6
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
This verse tells us that faith in love is pleasing to God. He delights in seeing us trust Him and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him with more of Himself.
Emphasize that faith in love is not just a duty, but a delight. It is not just a requirement, but a privilege. It is not just a command, but a blessing.
Faith in love is not just a duty, but a delight because it brings us closer to God, who is the source of all joy and satisfaction. Faith in love is not just a requirement, but a privilege because it enables us to access God’s presence, power, and promises. Faith in love is not just a command, but a blessing because it transforms our lives, our relationships, and our world.
When we experience the power of faith in love, we can transform our lives for God’s glory. We can do great things for Him, like the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. We can overcome great obstacles by His grace, like the apostles of Christ in Acts. We can enjoy great blessings from His hand, like the children of God in Psalms.
Let us experience the power of faith in love more fully and deeply today. Let us come to Him with a sincere heart, confessing our sins and repenting of our ways (1 John 1:9). Let us come to Him with a humble spirit, acknowledging our need and submitting to His authority (James 4:10). Let us come to Him with a hungry soul, desiring His presence and seeking His face (Psalm 42:1-2). Let us believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we have learned that love that never loses faith is based on God’s unfailing love, strengthens our marriages through faith in God, holds unswervingly to the hope we profess because of God’s faithfulness, and experiences the power of faith in love that pleases God.
I invite you now to respond to this message by applying it to your lives. How can you trust in God’s unfailing love more fully and deeply? How can you strengthen your marriage through faith in God more effectively and faithfully? How can you hold unswervingly to the hope you profess more confidently and joyfully? How can you experience the power of faith in love more fully and deeply?
Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
