1 John 4:7, 1 John 3:16, Philippians 2: 4-8, Psalm 145, Ephesians 5:2, 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16, Hebrews 13: 15-16

Howard Drummond

I was recently left a book of poems in the Pastor's office. Some had promised that they would write me some poems and they did. One of those poems is titled 'Love'. I'm sure that they won't mind me sharing this:

Love is a word that is used such a lot
It is a very small word but feelings it's got
There are so many ways of feeling love
Especially the one where we feel for God above

There are sisters, brothers parents too
Sweethearts, husbands, wives to whom we say "I love you"
The greatest love that will ever be is from the Lord above
He is the One, only, the greatest God above

We have the love for relations, friends and children too
We learn from a very young age to love deep, true
But without the love of God, guidance where would we be?
As our faith, love and life is to serve Thee.
P. Morrey.

Love is an emotion, sentiment, or feeling of pleasurable attraction toward, or delight in, something, as a principle, a person, or thing which induces a desire for the presence, possession, well being or promotion of its object. Or perhaps put a little simpler:

Love is taking a stand for the benefit of that person.

Our love for one another is a product of the love that God generates for us, and it defines how we are towards one another.

'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God' 1 John 4:7

John for the third time stresses love as being a test of the Christian life. John traces loves back to its source, being the very nature of God, revealed to us on the cross. We show His love by our attitude and action which comes from Him.

'By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' 1 John 3:16

This morning God's expression of His love for us through the cross is proof of not only of His love but is proof of the standard of love we should show to one another.

Read Philippians 2: 4-8

God commands us to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength. We have a song of God's majesty and love in Psalm 145, where God is gracious and full of compassion.

We have to exercise brotherly love, husbands are to love their wives, and we are to love our enemies, to love not the world and to love in the fulfilling of the law.