Choosing Love: The Heart of Discipleship
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often encounter the challenge of aligning our natural inclinations with the call to love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. Love, as a choice, does not come naturally to us. From a young age, we discover our own will, often leading to conflicts and a natural tendency towards unloving behavior. To truly embody love, we must consciously choose to receive and give it. This choice is central to becoming a disciple of Jesus. The essence of love is not in grand gestures or spiritual gifts but in the genuine transformation of our hearts.
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love, and to seek it is to seek love itself. This requires a deep introspection to identify and surrender the parts of our soul that hinder love. It is a personal journey, one that involves letting go of bitterness, anger, and past hurts. We must guard our hearts diligently, for from them flow the issues of life. This transformation is not something that can be imposed by others; it is a personal choice to learn love in the depths of our being.
A profound example of this love is seen in the story of a nurse who learned to care for those who were not lovely by seeing them as someone's baby, full of potential and promise. This perspective allows us to view every person as a creation of God, deserving of love and grace. Even our enemies are part of this vision, as we are called to bless and love them.
Ultimately, the deepest choice we make is what kind of person we want to be. Do we want to be filled with love and perform deeds of love, or settle for something less? The highest vision of life in the kingdom of God is one characterized by agape love, transforming us to the core. This teaching, though deep and challenging, is essential for living a life that reflects the kingdom of God, where love is the foundation and safety of our being.
Key Takeaways:
1. Love is a conscious choice, not a natural inclination. To embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, we must actively choose to receive and give love, recognizing that our natural tendencies often lead us away from it. This choice is central to our discipleship and spiritual growth. [15:51]
2. The kingdom of God is fundamentally a kingdom of love. Seeking God's kingdom means seeking love and righteousness, which requires us to examine and surrender the parts of our soul that hinder love. This introspection is deeply personal and transformative. [19:28]
3. Guarding our hearts is crucial, as they are the source of life. We must diligently protect our hearts from bitterness, anger, and past hurts, allowing love to flow freely. This process involves identifying and surrendering these hindrances to God. [21:59]
4. Viewing others through the lens of love transforms our interactions. By seeing every person as a creation of God, full of potential and deserving of grace, we can extend love even to those who are difficult to love, including our enemies. [23:31]
5. The deepest choice we make is the kind of person we want to be. Choosing to be filled with love and performing deeds of love is the highest vision of life in the kingdom of God. This transformation is a personal journey between us and God. [26:00]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[14:33] - The Nature of Will and Conflict
[15:11] - Choosing to Receive Love
[16:34] - The Essence of Love
[17:48] - Kingdom Inversion and Love
[18:28] - The Human Show Without Love
[19:28] - Seeking the Kingdom of Love
[20:26] - Personal Introspection and Surrender
[21:59] - Guarding the Heart
[23:31] - Seeing Others Through Love
[24:47] - God's Eternal Plan for Everyone
[25:32] - The Choice to Learn Love
[26:49] - The Vision of Agape Love
[27:18] - Living the Kingdom of Love
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
2. Luke 6:27-28
3. Proverbs 4:23
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, what is the significance of love compared to spiritual gifts and grand gestures?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor suggest is the natural tendency of human behavior, and how does it relate to the concept of love? [14:53]
3. How does the nurse's perspective on seeing patients as "someone's baby" illustrate the sermon’s message about viewing others through the lens of love? [23:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "kingdom of God" as a "kingdom of love," and what implications does this have for personal spiritual growth? [19:28]
2. What does it mean to "guard your heart" according to Proverbs 4:23, and how does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on personal introspection and surrender? [21:59]
3. How does the sermon suggest that choosing to love is central to becoming a disciple of Jesus, and what challenges might one face in making this choice? [15:51]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to choose love over your natural inclinations. What steps can you take to consciously choose love in similar situations in the future? [15:51]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of introspection to identify and surrender parts of our soul that hinder love. What specific areas in your life might need this kind of introspection and surrender? [20:26]
3. How can you apply the nurse's perspective of seeing others as "someone's baby" in your daily interactions, especially with those who are difficult to love? [23:31]
4. Consider the idea that the deepest choice we make is the kind of person we want to be. What practical steps can you take this week to align your actions with a life characterized by agape love? [26:00]
5. The sermon suggests that guarding our hearts is crucial. What are some practical ways you can protect your heart from bitterness, anger, and past hurts? [21:59]
6. How can you actively seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness in your daily life, and what role does love play in this pursuit? [19:28]
7. Reflect on the statement that no one can prevent you from learning love. What personal barriers might you need to overcome to fully embrace this truth? [26:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Love as a Deliberate Choice
To embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, one must recognize that love is not a natural inclination but a conscious choice. From a young age, individuals discover their own will, often leading to conflicts and a natural tendency towards unloving behavior. This choice to love is central to discipleship and spiritual growth. It requires actively choosing to receive and give love, even when it feels unnatural or challenging. This deliberate choice is a testament to one's commitment to follow the teachings of Jesus and to grow spiritually. [15:51]
1 John 4:19-21 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you chose not to act in love. How can you consciously choose to respond with love if a similar situation arises today?
Day 2: Seeking the Kingdom of Love
The kingdom of God is fundamentally a kingdom of love. To seek God's kingdom means to seek love and righteousness, which requires a deep introspection to identify and surrender the parts of our soul that hinder love. This introspection is deeply personal and transformative, as it involves letting go of bitterness, anger, and past hurts. By examining these hindrances, individuals can align themselves more closely with the values of the kingdom of God, where love is the foundation. [19:28]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where bitterness or anger is present. What steps can you take today to surrender this to God and seek His love instead?
Day 3: Guarding the Heart
Guarding one's heart is crucial, as it is the source of life. The heart must be diligently protected from bitterness, anger, and past hurts, allowing love to flow freely. This process involves identifying and surrendering these hindrances to God, ensuring that the heart remains open to love and transformation. By guarding the heart, individuals can ensure that their actions and thoughts are aligned with the love and teachings of Jesus. [21:59]
Proverbs 4:23-24 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can guard your heart today against negative influences or emotions?
Day 4: Seeing Others Through the Lens of Love
Viewing others through the lens of love transforms interactions. By seeing every person as a creation of God, full of potential and deserving of grace, individuals can extend love even to those who are difficult to love, including enemies. This perspective allows for a more compassionate and understanding approach to relationships, reflecting the love and grace that God extends to all His creations. [23:31]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love. How can you change your perspective to see them as God does, and what is one loving action you can take towards them today?
Day 5: The Choice to Be Filled with Love
The deepest choice one makes is the kind of person they want to be. Choosing to be filled with love and performing deeds of love is the highest vision of life in the kingdom of God. This transformation is a personal journey between the individual and God, requiring a commitment to embody love in all aspects of life. By making this choice, individuals align themselves with the values of the kingdom of God, where love is the foundation and safety of being. [26:00]
1 Peter 1:22-23 (ESV): "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God."
Reflection: Reflect on the kind of person you want to be. What is one specific action you can take today to align yourself more closely with a life filled with love?
Quotes
"it doesn't come naturally though because the little child very soon discovers that it has a will and usually the parent soon thereafter discovers they have one if they didn't know it already and so then we have the conflicts of will and the natural course is for those to become more and more destructive so we need to understand that it does not come naturally and we need to be not surprised about that we need not to be think how astonishing that I should be unloving no given who we are it's very natural for us to be unloving see we have to understand where the natural weight of things falls so that we can deal with it truthfully so if I'm going to be loving I have to choose to receive love" [00:14:15]
"and it isn't just I can't do that it's really perhaps deeply I haven't decided to be that kind of person and here as in other areas like becoming a disciple of Jesus choice is of central importance and if I were to ask you this evening have you chosen to receive first Corinthians 13 kind of love what would be your honest answer working on it good sometimes will get you there it'll get you there it'll get you there but we have to choose now see we're apt to go for the first part of first Corinthians 13 and be put off by that because it lists that we think is wonderful and it says with nothing if I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love I am become as sounding brass or tinkling cymbals" [00:15:35]
"so here you are speaking with the tongues of men and angels and you don't have any love it's ball that's all it is to it that's all it means if I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge then the one that takes my breath away if I have faith so that I can move mountains they don't even teach you that in seminary I have nothing nothing and have not love I'm nothing if I give away all my goods if I give my body to be burned without love how many times that has happened how many martyrs had died with anger and hatred in their hearts for what all kinds of causes and have not love it profits me nothing" [00:16:56]
"we have to go through the kingdom inversion before we come to love we have to give up on all of that other stuff that's where the word of the kingdom has to come to us in power and to assure us of the reality of that kingdom remember as the basis for death to self because what are all of those things mentioned there speaking with the tongues of men and angels and so forth that's precisely the self being alive without love it's all a human show our service our speaking our gifts there's a human show unless B Amla remember that as we think about making this a choice now this is so deep that it has to be left for you to think about to give time to work it through your own soul till you come to the point where you can say yes I would really like to have that I really like to have that" [00:18:00]
"when we seek the kingdom of God we are seeking the kingdom of love we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness what is his righteousness love isn't it in order for us to do that and care through with it we need to enter into our own souls and identify the things there that are not love and surrender them to God surrender them to God what in US we again this is intensely personal it's something that you can hardly talk about it in a large group because it's for each one of us to take away and to say now now what is it that hinders me and it may be at the level of our understanding of God or the gospel it may be at a doctrinal level see it may be there it may be just some little root of bitterness that as the writer of Hebrews says a root of bitterness some little thing down in there some little bitty disappointment and anger that I've lived with for so long that it is precious to me" [00:19:24]
"and I wouldn't know who I was if I gave it up and we all suffer from things don't I mean I don't know of a person alive that hasn't been wronged and injured hurt sometimes very badly so what we need to do now is to seek out the things in our souls that will prevent us from living moment by moment with those around us in love as we have seen it here tonight the verse in Proverbs 3 I think it is keep your heart with all diligence or from the heart by the issues of life I think it's 3:24 if not it's for 24 or something like that keep your heart that's where the life flows from and so as we finish this evening you see I want to leave you with that attitude of looking over the care of your own heart it is nothing that anyone can do but you if you choose to be a person that has learned love in the depths of your being you can be that but you must choose it and you must find the things that need to be changed and submit them to God" [00:21:15]
"give them give up on things that are hanging over you that you have tried for so long to control turn them loose to God many times it's learning just how to think I I was struck by a nurse on a Sunday morning program sometimes back and it was about how she had learned to care for people who were very unlovely and she said when I treat someone who is at the stage where they are and then she hesitated and said not attractive I think of them as someone's baby and they all were weren't they I see this nurse had entered into her heart I don't know when she's a Christian or not but this this promises well for her she had learned how to love people who were not lovely and she says I think of them as someone's baby who has all sorts of promise and could grow up to be President or anything that's hard to do that I'm sure when you're looking at someone who's an adult or any or perhaps elderly and but you see she had found the key to look at them as someone's baby and do you know that that is true of everyone and we are privileged to look at every human being as someone for whom God had an eternal plan and to approach them in that way" [00:22:58]
"now I have no idea in many cases whether they're going to fulfill that plan or not but I do know that I can see them as God's creature someone on whom he sins rain and Sun and who seeks to bless them and then in fulfilling his love in me I can be a part of that blessing and if they're my enemies that's still true if there are people who are cursing me that's still true now I want to just close then with this thought that I've already expressed because I wanted you to be thinking about it no one can prevent you from learning love in this way no one can prevent you from it God is in favor of it it is strictly speaking a matter between you and God and the deepest choice you make at this point is what kind of a person do I want to be do I want to be a person who is filled with love and because they're filled with love do the deeds of love or do I want something less than that now what God gets out of our life is the person we become that's what we get out of our lives and this is the highest vision of life in the kingdom of God it is a life of agape love that characterizes us to the deepest depths of our being" [00:24:47]
"Lord we ask you to take this teaching which is so deep and important and yet troubling and make it something that we can understand and put in practice this very evening tomorrow until the things that we've read about in the scripture this evening began to seem like things that are a part of our lives that are real for us that we can easily turn to and rely upon the vision of your kingdom as a kingdom of love of which we are part in which we are perfectly safe where it is good for us to be who we are where we are because of your love give us that vision and help us out of that to minister your kingdom to this world in Jesus name" [00:26:49]
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