Love for God who is love Deuteronomy 6v4-8; 1 John 4v13-16
by Stephen Coffin
Life is about love
- Who we are is more important than what we do or have
- Life & Christianity is about relationships
- Jesus came to show us how to live life aright
- God loves us absolutely as we considered last week
- He made us & gives us life to enjoy
- When we reject him he continues to love us
- Jesus died to reconcile us to God - ultimate love
- Our Church logo seeks to express this:
Love God
Love neighbour - Love Christians
God's
love
shown
to
us
in
Jesus
- "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4v16)
- Good parents want the best for their children, so
- God commands us to do what is best for us
- "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut.6v5)
- Endorsed by Jesus as the first priority of life
- Accepting God's love is the first step of love towards him
- Love is about commitment to the beloved
How to love God
- Make pleasing God the central aim of life
- "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6v6-7)
- Give Jesus the first place in your life
- "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." (1 John 4v15)
- Keep asking the Spirit of God to fill your life
- "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4v13)''
- Invest time in your relationship with God
- Communicate with God in prayer
- Share your feelings with God
- Listen to God, by reading the bible
- Be thankful to God, counting your blessings
- Ask yourself what Jesus would say & do in your situation
- Ask the Holy Spirit to fill & inspire you afresh every day
- Praise God to other people (be a witness)
- Trust God to work everything together for good
