A True Love (Continued)
August is over, and September is upon us. While it is not quite sweater weather or time for the Pumpkin Spice Latte, fall is closer today than yesterday! We are excited to gather for worship, reflection, and spiritual growth this Sunday. I want to take a few moments to give you a preview of what you can expect as we dive into a powerful message from the Word of God.
This Sunday, we will focus on a passage from 1 John 4:17-21. These verses speak to the very heart of our faith—love. They remind us that God's love is the foundation of our relationship with Him and the driving force behind our interactions with others.
"In 1 John 4:17, the Apostle John tells us that God’s love is perfected in us so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment. This love gives us boldness and assurance because as Christ is, so are we in this world. We’ll explore how this perfected love transforms us and enables us to live without fear, reflecting Christ in our daily lives.
In verse 18, we see that ‘perfect love casts out fear.’ We’ll talk about how fear and love are incompatible and how embracing God’s perfect love allows us to live free from the anxieties and fears that often hold us back.
"And then, in verse 19, John reminds us of a foundational truth: ‘We love because He first loved us.’ Our ability to love others stems directly from God's love in our hearts. This is a powerful reminder that our love is a response to God’s initiative.
But John also challenges us in verses 20 and 21. He says that if we claim to love God but harbor hatred or resentment toward our brothers and sisters, we are deceiving ourselves. Our love for God must be reflected in our love for others. The commandment is clear: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. This isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a direct command from God Himself.
"On Sunday, we’ll unpack these verses and consider how they apply to our lives today. We’ll talk about what it means to live in the confidence of God’s love, how we can respond to that love by loving others, and the importance of obeying God’s command to love those around us.
This message is not just for those who have been following Christ for years but also for anyone seeking to understand what it truly means to live a life of love, free from fear and full of God’s presence.
"I want to encourage you to join us this Sunday, whether in person or online, as we come together to worship and learn from God’s Word. This is an opportunity to grow deeper in your faith, to be challenged, and to be reminded of God's incredible love for each of us—a love that calls us to love others with the same intensity and commitment.
I look forward to seeing you there. Let’s prepare our hearts and minds to receive what God has for us this Sunday. May His love continue to perfect and transform us as we seek to live out His commandments in our daily lives.
"God bless you, and see you on Sunday!"