Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Just having someone say the words I love you, isn’t enough, is it? Those words need to be demonstrated by our actions. And here’s the beauty of God’s love: God demonstrated his love when we were at our most undesirable and rebellious. His love is undeserved and unmerited; the love of a God desperately in love with his creation. How well do you know this love?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16

Notice that this verse does not say that God is at home with those who pray lots or who read their Bible loads or who regular fast or who are constantly evangelising or who never miss attending Church… It says God is with the person at home with love. Everything we do as Christians, prayer, bible reading etc, is about receiving love from Father God and sharing his love with others.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

“Lavish” is the kind of word that is used to describe meals that the Queen holds for visiting heads of states. Architecturally awesome surroundings, regal clothing, cutlery that costs more than the average house and meals containing the most exquisite food… No expense gets spared. God has lavished his great love upon us by adopting us into his family! Now we have access to the lavish treatment all the time!

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

When you mess up do you think or act like you have to re-earn God’s love? When you sin do you to choose to stay at home rather than go to Church? When you forget to read the Bible or pray do you feel guilty? When something bad happens to you do you begin to doubt God’s love?

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Do you believe this?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

We love because he first loved us. If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars. For if we do not love a fellow believer, whom we have seen, we cannot love God, whom we have not seen. 1 John 4:19-20

One of the issues with the way we love people is that we pick and choose who we love based on whether we like them. If they’re funny or attractive or talented, etc, they gain our love quicker than if they are not.

We are to love simply because God loves us; we’re not to pick and choose! Which Christians do you struggle to love? How can you show God’s love to them this week?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:13-14

I really appreciate the realism of this verse. Paul doesn’t shy away from the fact that we won’t like everyone we meet and that there will be some we will have to endure! Sometimes we consciously need to choose to love; to put love on like a new set of clothes. Forgiveness is one of the keys to love. Ask God to bring to mind anyone you need to forgive.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4

A worship song I really like goes: “I can’t see competition; I can’t see hierarchy; I can’t see pride or prejudice or the abuse of authority. I can’t see lust for power; I can’t see manipulation; I can’t see rage or anger or selfish ambition. When I look at the blood all I see is love, love, love. When I stop at the cross I can see the love of God.”

FOOTNOTE:
* When I Look at the Blood, by Godfrey Birtill

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

There’s a story of how a church invited a theology student to preach on the parable of the Good Samaritan. On the Sunday morning the student was due to preach, the church positioned a variety of “people in need” along the student’s route to see what the student would do. Eager to get to the church on time the Student walked by each one…

What good are words without action?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

When someone wrongs you it is easy to become angry, indignant, or even hateful. However, if we love each other deeply we instead respond by choosing forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation. Love causes us to move on from lingering on hate-filled thoughts of the wrong done to us into restored relationship. It is in this way that love covers over a multitude of sins. Choose to let love move you on today.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 2 Corinthians 5:14

If people had asked Paul, “Why do you do what you do? Why do endure the suffering, the torture and the imprisonment?” I think he would have replied, “I have to. It’s like I can’t do anything else. The love Jesus has for me compels me. The love I receive from him is so great that I cannot keep it locked up inside of me – I have to share it with others.”

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Many of us are afraid of intimacy (into-me-see); we think if others see us the way we really are they won’t love us. Others of us are afraid of being hurt or rejected or betrayed again, so we setup barriers to prevent that happening. In both examples fear not only restricts how well we love, it also affects how much love we receive. Invite God’s perfect love to drive out the fear in you.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. 1 John 5:2-3

I don’t know about you, but encountering the word “commands” in the same sentence as love used to seem odd. Marriage has changed this opinion, as one of the ways I demonstrate love to my wife is by keeping my wedding vows. It’s a bit like this with God; his commands are like wedding vows between us and him. We love God by keeping these commands.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:1

How much prophecy do you hear in your Church or your youth group? Prophecy has not always been part of my Christian experience and I’ve been part of church groups where “we’re not into that kind of thing.” But as I read Paul, prophecy seems vitally important to following the way of love (or the way of Jesus). Do you desire this gift? Why do you think it’s important you do?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Love

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

Whenever I see "spur" I think of the sharp spiked wheel on the heel of a horse rider’s boot – the kind which cowboys wear – that’s used to urge the horse on.

I wonder if Paul had in mind (not cowboys obviously!), but this idea of, shall we say, a kick up the behind? Do you need this kind of encouragement this week to put energy into loving well and doing good deeds?