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Learn to Love by Faith (1 John 4:7-21) ------------------------------------------------------- Love is more than a powerful feeling of deep affection, as the world would have us believe. It involves choice, intention, desire, and caring enough about the one being loved to want the best for them. Some people ask why a loving God would send someone to Hell. They think that love means that they can do whatever they want and God will give them a pass. But God is holy and perfect and He cannot allow sin in his presence. We wouldn’t survive in his presence. God knows exactly who He created us to be, and He loves us too much to let us waste our lives. He created us to be His children. Yes, people who rebel against Him will end up in hell. When we live life the way we want, it is not love, that is death. The better question is how can God love us so much that He would choose to send His Son to die for us even when He knows us so well? We need to love because we are loved. God commands that we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:36-39). When we accept Jesus, we are forgiven and can truly LIVE, because He stands in the line of fire of God’s coming wrath. Love is not about warm fuzzies. We may not always FEEL like loving someone. But when we want to hang on to a grudge, let’s remember that nobody has ever done to us what we have done to God. We need to love others not in our own strength, but with the love that He has shown us. We love because He first loved us, and we should be an agent for God’s love. Some people want us to not only accept their rebellious lifestyle, but celebrate it. That is not love. We don’t need to agree with people’s choices, but we do need to ask ourselves whether we are influencing others for Christ. We should point people to Jesus and pray for those who persecute us. Application points: -- Spend time reflecting on God’s love for and forgiveness of you. -- Thank and pray for those you need to love and forgive. Make it a conscious decision and change your self-talk. Ask a friend for prayer to help. -- Demonstrate Christ-like love. Take loving actions: speak graciously; pray regularly. The most important thing you will ever do is to encourage people toward Christ.