Choosing Love: Embracing God's Presence in Our Lives
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that love should always be our response. Drawing from the teachings of John, who was an eyewitness to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we are reminded that God is love, and His Spirit dwells within us. This means we are never alone; God is with us wherever we go. In the old covenant, people had to go to specific places to encounter God, but now, under the new covenant, God resides in our hearts and minds. This presence of God within us eliminates fear and the need to prove ourselves to others. We are secure in His love, and as His children, we have nothing to prove.
John emphasizes that love is the essence of God's nature. It is not just one of His attributes but the core of who He is. Everything God does is motivated by love, and this love is extended to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate this love in our interactions with others. Love should be our default response, even when it is challenging. It is a choice we make, empowered by the Holy Spirit within us.
Our reactions often stem from our initial feelings, but we are responsible for our responses. While we may not control our first thoughts or feelings, we can choose our second thoughts and first actions. Love is always possible because it is a choice, and it comes from God. Our response to situations represents Christ, and we must strive to respond in love, even when it is difficult. This world desperately needs to see the love of God through us, and it is our responsibility to show it.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Presence Within Us: We are never alone because God's Spirit dwells within us. This presence eliminates fear and the need to prove ourselves, providing us with security in His love. We are His children, and He accepts us as we are. [01:48]
2. Love as God's Core Nature: Love is not just an attribute of God; it is His essence. Everything He does is motivated by love, and this love is extended to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. [10:32]
3. The Challenge of Love: Love should always be our response, even when it is difficult. It is a choice we make, empowered by the Holy Spirit within us. Our reactions often stem from initial feelings, but we are responsible for our responses. [18:57]
4. Responding vs. Reacting: While we may not control our first thoughts or feelings, we can choose our second thoughts and first actions. Love is always possible because it is a choice, and it comes from God. [23:51]
5. Our Responsibility to Love: Our response to situations represents Christ, and we must strive to respond in love, even when it is difficult. This world desperately needs to see the love of God through us, and it is our responsibility to show it. [28:02]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:48] - God's Presence Within Us
- [03:24] - Nothing to Prove
- [04:58] - The Essence of Love
- [06:44] - Perfect Love Expels Fear
- [08:27] - God is Love, Period
- [10:32] - Love as God's Core Nature
- [12:21] - Love as the Right Response
- [17:57] - The Challenge of Love
- [18:57] - Responding vs. Reacting
- [19:52] - Choosing Love Over Reaction
- [21:24] - The Default Setting of Reactions
- [23:07] - Responsibility for Our Actions
- [24:33] - Learning to Love Like God
- [28:02] - Our Responsibility to Love
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 John 4:7-21
2. 2 Corinthians 10:5
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 John 4:7-21, how does John describe the relationship between knowing God and loving others? What does this imply about the nature of God? [04:58]
2. In the sermon, it was mentioned that God's Spirit dwells within us, eliminating fear and the need to prove ourselves. How does this concept relate to the old and new covenants as described in the sermon? [01:48]
3. The pastor emphasized that love should always be our response, even when it is difficult. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate situations where love might be challenging to express? [18:57]
4. How does 2 Corinthians 10:5 relate to the idea of choosing our second thoughts and first actions, as discussed in the sermon? [25:50]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean for love to be the core nature of God, and how does this understanding affect our perception of His other attributes like justice and holiness? [10:32]
2. The sermon suggests that our response to situations represents Christ. How might this perspective change the way we approach conflicts or disagreements in our daily lives? [18:57]
3. In what ways does the presence of the Holy Spirit empower believers to choose love as a response, even in difficult circumstances? [18:57]
4. How can the practice of taking every thought captive, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:5, help believers in responding with love rather than reacting impulsively? [25:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you reacted rather than responded. How could you have chosen love as your response, and what might have been the outcome? [19:52]
2. The sermon mentioned that we have nothing to prove because we are secure in God's love. How does this truth impact your interactions with others, especially in competitive or high-pressure environments? [03:24]
3. Identify a relationship in your life where expressing love is particularly challenging. What practical steps can you take this week to show love in that relationship? [12:21]
4. Consider the idea that our response represents Christ. How can you remind yourself of this truth in moments of frustration or anger? [18:57]
5. The pastor mentioned that love is a choice and comes from God. How can you cultivate a habit of choosing love in your daily routine, especially in unexpected situations? [18:57]
6. Think about a time when you felt the need to prove yourself. How can the understanding that you are a child of God, with nothing to prove, change your approach in similar situations in the future? [03:24]
7. How can you apply the practice of taking every thought captive to a specific area of your life where you struggle with negative or impulsive reactions? [25:50]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Indwelling Presence Provides Security
God's Spirit resides within each believer, offering a profound sense of security and eliminating the need for fear or the compulsion to prove oneself to others. In the old covenant, people sought God in specific locations, but under the new covenant, His presence is within us, providing constant companionship and assurance. This indwelling presence means that we are never alone, and we are accepted as we are, as His beloved children. The realization of this truth can transform our lives, freeing us from the anxieties of seeking validation from the world. [01:48]
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel the need to prove yourself to others? How can you remind yourself of God's presence within you to find security and peace today?
Day 2: Love as the Essence of God's Nature
Love is not merely an attribute of God; it is His very essence. Everything God does is motivated by love, and this love is extended to all people, regardless of their background or beliefs. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect this divine love in our interactions with others. This means loving unconditionally, just as God loves us. Understanding that love is central to God's nature can inspire us to make love our default response, even in challenging situations. [10:32]
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a person or group you find difficult to love. How can you intentionally show them God's love this week, reflecting His nature through your actions?
Day 3: Choosing Love in Difficult Situations
Love should always be our response, even when it is difficult. While our initial reactions may be driven by emotions, we have the responsibility to choose our responses. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can decide to act in love, regardless of the circumstances. This choice is a testament to our faith and a reflection of Christ's love in us. The world needs to see this love, and it is our responsibility to demonstrate it through our actions and decisions. [18:57]
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: Recall a recent situation where you reacted out of emotion rather than love. How can you prepare yourself to choose love in similar situations in the future?
Day 4: The Power of Second Thoughts
While we may not control our first thoughts or feelings, we can choose our second thoughts and first actions. Love is always possible because it is a choice that comes from God. By pausing and reflecting, we can align our responses with God's love, rather than reacting impulsively. This practice of choosing love over reaction can transform our relationships and interactions, allowing us to represent Christ more faithfully in the world. [23:51]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a situation where you often react impulsively. What practical steps can you take to pause and choose a loving response instead?
Day 5: Our Responsibility to Reflect God's Love
As representatives of Christ, it is our responsibility to respond in love, even when it is challenging. The world desperately needs to see the love of God through us, and we are called to be His ambassadors. This means actively choosing love in every situation, allowing God's love to shine through our actions and words. By doing so, we fulfill our calling and demonstrate the transformative power of God's love to those around us. [28:02]
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you be an ambassador of God's love in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to show His love to those around you?
Quotes
1) "We don't have to fear losing our job, our future. We don't have to fear sickness. We don't have to fear death. That can be difficult, can't it? We don't have to fear inflation, the stock market, COVID, the upcoming election. We don't have to fear anything. We don't have to fear any of that, because God is living in us, and God is love. Yes, I'm not going to stand up here and say none of this will happen, because yes, these things will occur. Life will throw things at us. I mean, that's how life works. But even when life throws those things at us, we don't have to fear." [02:36] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "God's core nature is love, self-giving, life-giving, courageous love, and all these other expressions, righteousness, grace, mercy, just, holy, is all expressions of his love towards you and I, he loves us that much, everything that God does, think about this, everything that God does is motivated out of love, period, he loves you, period, he loves the world, period, he loves the drug addiction addict, period, he loves you when you're at your worst, I don't know about you, but I like that one, even when I hit the electric line, God still loves me, when I hit the sewer line, God still loves me, period." [10:32] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "No matter what the relationship you're in is like, no matter how people treat you, love will always, always be the right response. And love is always possible because love is a choice and love comes from God. And we have God's spirit living inside of us, which allows us to respond in love because he first loved us. See, our response is our responsibility. Our response gets this. Our response to a situation represents Christ. Our response should always, always be out of love." [18:57] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "You are not responsible for your first feelings or your first thoughts. Okay? When someone does something and it goes through your mind, that happens. But you are responsible for your second thought and your first action. You got that? You are responsible for your second thought and your first actions. See, no matter what life or your employee or your teenager or your spouse throws at you, you can still always respond in love because it's a choice. God showed us that choice. God is the example for that choice. And we can learn to do that." [23:51] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Love will always be the right response because love is always God's response. But here's the good news. I want to end this on a good news. You have living in you, if you've accepted Christ, that unending, self-giving, life-giving, courageous love living in you called the Holy Spirit. And you can access this love at any time by pouring yourself out, by pouring love out to others who you may come in contact with. You can love like that. And when you learn to love like that, this nothing to fear, nothing to prove, it will come true." [26:34] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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