Embodying God's Love: A Mother's Day Reflection
Summary
Today we gathered to celebrate the gift of children and the vital role of mothers, recognizing both as profound blessings from God. We began by dedicating several children to the Lord, following the biblical examples of Hannah with Samuel and Mary and Joseph with Jesus. These dedications are not just ceremonies, but public commitments by parents and the church to raise these children in the knowledge and love of Jesus, praying that one day each child will personally confess Christ as Lord. We also acknowledged the church’s responsibility to support these families, reminding ourselves that raising children in faith is a communal calling.
On this Mother’s Day, we honored mothers for their irreplaceable influence and love, while also recognizing that this day can be difficult for some. We prayed that every woman would feel seen, loved, and supported, regardless of their circumstances. Love, after all, is at the heart of both motherhood and the Christian life.
Turning to 1 John 3:11-18, we explored what real love is, using the acronym L-O-V-E: Love is from the Lord, Original, a Verb, and Evidence. Our culture is saturated with talk of love—through movies, music, and even home décor—but often lacks a true understanding or application of it. The Bible distinguishes between different kinds of love, but the highest form is agape: sacrificial, unconditional, and divine. This is the love God has shown us in Christ, laying down His life for us.
Love is not something we earn or manufacture; it originates with God and is part of His very nature. We don’t have to strive to be worthy of it—He loved us first. This love is not just a feeling or a word, but an action. We are called to love not merely in speech, but in deed and truth, serving others sacrificially as Christ did. Love is also the evidence of our new life in Christ; it is how the world recognizes us as His disciples. Our challenge is to redefine love according to God’s standard, to put it into action, and to let it be the unmistakable mark of our lives.
As we move forward, may we reflect on how we can embody this love—toward our families, our church, and even our enemies—so that God’s love is made visible in our world.
Key Takeaways
- Love Begins and Flows from God
True love is not a human invention or a response to our worthiness; it originates in the very heart of God. Before we ever sought Him, He loved us, and all genuine love in our lives is a reflection of His character. This means we do not have to earn God’s love, nor can we exhaust it—He is the source and sustainer of all love. [44:15]
- Love Is God’s Original Disposition, Not a Reaction
God’s love is not a reluctant response to our brokenness, but His original intent from the very beginning. Creation itself is an outpouring of His love, and His commands to love are woven throughout Scripture. We are invited to rest in the security that God’s love for us is not conditional or transactional, but foundational and eternal. [46:30]
- Love Must Be an Action, Not Just Words
It is easy to talk about love or to feel loving emotions, but biblical love is demonstrated through tangible actions. The call is to love “in deed and in truth,” serving others sacrificially, even when it is inconvenient or costly. Our faith is authenticated not by what we say about love, but by how we live it out in practical, self-giving ways. [51:00]
- Love Is the Evidence of New Life in Christ
The distinguishing mark of a follower of Jesus is not doctrinal precision or outward religiosity, but a life characterized by radical, selfless love. When we love others—especially those who are difficult to love—we reveal the transforming power of Christ within us. This love is the clearest evidence to the world that we belong to Him. [54:30]
- Redefining and Deploying Love Transforms Us and Our World
Many of us have inherited distorted definitions of love from culture or even family, but God invites us to redefine love according to His Word and example. As we put this love into action, we not only bless others but also come to know God’s love more deeply ourselves. The journey of loving as Christ loved is both our calling and our greatest witness. [57:00]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Child Dedications: Meaning and Biblical Roots
[02:00] - Introducing Families and Verses for Each Child
[10:00] - Commitments from Parents and Church
[13:00] - Prayer of Dedication for Children and Families
[15:00] - Celebrating the Sound of Children in Church
[16:00] - Introducing Missionary Iman Lolas
[18:30] - Praying for Iman and Ministry in Bethlehem
[21:00] - Reflections on Love and Mother’s Day
[23:00] - Cultural Obsession with Love
[25:00] - 1 John 3:11-18: The Biblical Definition of Love
[28:00] - The L-O-V-E Acronym Explained
[32:00] - Love as Action: Stories and Application
[36:00] - Love as Evidence of New Life
[39:00] - Invitation to Respond: Salvation, Baptism, Communion
[45:00] - Closing Blessing and Mother’s Day Gifts
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Real Meaning of Love (1 John 3:11-18)
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### Bible Reading
- 1 John 3:11-18
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 3:16, how do we know what real love is? What example does John give?
2. In the passage, what is the difference between loving “in word or talk” and loving “in deed and in truth”?
3. The sermon mentioned three types of love found in the Bible. What are they, and which one is John talking about here? [44:15]
4. What does John say is the evidence that we have “passed out of death into life”?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon said that love is “from the Lord” and is “original”—not a reaction to our brokenness. What does it mean that God’s love is His original disposition toward us? How does this challenge the way we sometimes think about earning love? [46:30]
2. Why do you think John warns against loving only with words? What are some reasons people might say they love but not show it in action? [51:00]
3. The sermon described love as the “evidence” of new life in Christ. Why is love, and not just correct beliefs or religious activity, the main sign that someone belongs to Jesus? [54:30]
4. The sermon talked about how our culture is obsessed with love but often misunderstands it. What are some ways the world’s definition of love is different from the biblical definition? [44:15]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us to “redefine love according to God’s standard.” Are there ways you have misunderstood or misdefined love because of your upbringing, culture, or past experiences? What would it look like to let God reshape your understanding of love? [57:00]
2. Think about your family, church, or workplace. Is there someone you find difficult to love? What is one practical action you could take this week to love them “in deed and in truth”? [51:00]
3. The sermon said, “We don’t have to earn God’s love, nor can we exhaust it—He is the source and sustainer of all love.” Do you ever feel like you have to earn God’s love or the love of others? How does knowing God’s love is unconditional change the way you relate to Him and to people? [44:15]
4. The church made a public commitment to support families raising children in faith. What are some specific ways you can support parents, children, or others in your church family? [36:00]
5. The sermon gave examples of love in action, like bringing meals or serving those in need. Can you share a time when someone’s actions (not just words) made you feel loved? How can you be that person for someone else this month? [51:00]
6. The sermon mentioned that love is the “evidence” of Christ in us. If someone watched your life this week, what would they see as the evidence of your faith? Is there an area where you want to grow in showing Christ’s love? [54:30]
7. On Mother’s Day, the church prayed for every woman to feel seen, loved, and supported, even if the day is hard. Is there someone in your life who might need extra encouragement or support right now? How can you reach out to them in love this week? [43:03]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you see His love more clearly, to receive it deeply, and to put it into action in your relationships this week. Pray for specific people or situations where you want to show Christ’s love in a real, practical way.
Devotional
Day 1: Love Is From the Lord
True love originates from God, who not only created love but demonstrated it perfectly through Jesus laying down His life for us. All other forms of love—whether from family, friends, or culture—are but a shadow compared to the sacrificial, unconditional love God offers. We do not have to earn this love; it is freely given, initiated by God Himself, and it is the foundation for how we are called to love others. When we look to Jesus, we see the ultimate example of love in action, and we are invited to receive and reflect that love in our own lives. [45:30]
1 John 3:16 (ESV)
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to believe that God’s love for you is truly unconditional and not something you have to earn? How might you let that truth reshape your view of yourself today?
Day 2: Love Is Original
God’s love is not a reaction to our actions or worthiness; it has been His intention from the very beginning. Before we ever sought Him, He loved us, and all of creation flows from that original love. This means we don’t have to strive to gain God’s affection—He initiated love toward us first. Understanding that love is God’s original disposition helps us rest in His grace and motivates us to love others from a place of security, not striving. [47:00]
Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)
"Jesus answered, 'The most important is, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.'"
Reflection: Is there a relationship or situation where you’ve been trying to “earn” love or approval? How can you rest in God’s original love for you and let that overflow into how you treat others today?
Day 3: Love Is a Verb
Love is not just a feeling or a word—it is an action. God calls us to move beyond talking about love to actually living it out in tangible ways, especially when it’s difficult or inconvenient. The world notices when love is more than a slogan or sentiment, but a lived reality that meets needs, offers forgiveness, and serves others sacrificially. Real love is seen in what we do, not just what we say, and it is often remembered most in the small, practical acts of kindness and care. [51:00]
1 John 3:18 (ESV)
"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Who is one person you can show love to in a practical way today—through a meal, a note, a helping hand, or another act of service? What step will you take?
Day 4: Love Is Evidence
The way we love others is the clearest evidence that we belong to Jesus and have been transformed by His love. It is not our arguments, our image, or our knowledge that sets us apart, but our willingness to love—even when it’s hard, even when it costs us something. This love is the mark of a true disciple and is meant to be visible to the world, drawing others to Christ through our selfless actions and unity. [54:30]
John 13:34-35 (ESV)
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Reflection: How might someone observing your life this week recognize that you are a follower of Jesus by the way you love others? What is one change you can make to better reflect Christ’s love?
Day 5: Love Requires a Response
Receiving God’s love is the starting point, but it calls for a response—surrendering to Jesus as Lord and letting His love transform us from the inside out. This response is not just a one-time decision but an ongoing invitation to redefine love according to God’s standard, to deploy it in action, and to let it be the evidence of His work in us. As we respond to His love, we are empowered to love others in ways that are world-changing and life-changing. [59:30]
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Reflection: Have you truly received God’s love and responded by surrendering your life to Jesus? If so, what is one area where you sense God inviting you to take a next step in loving others as He has loved you?
Quotes
Despite our cultural infatuation with love, I think that despite our word art, our songs, our books and our movies we poorly understand what real love is and maybe even worse we poorly apply it so let's look at the text and we're gonna talk about it. [00:45:24] (19 seconds)
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers but if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him how does God's love abide in him? [00:46:18] (15 seconds)
Little children let us not love in word or talk but indeed and in truth before we go any further you probably know that love has many connotations right when we use the word love it doesn't always mean the exact same thing. [00:46:33] (18 seconds)
There's a lot of places you can learn some little like sliver of love but your movie songs social media and books even the love you received from your parents or your family pales in comparison to the real love we get through God love is from the Lord. [00:52:38] (19 seconds)
Love is original our text said you have heard it from the beginning that goes all the way back to Genesis 4 where we find Cain killing his brother because he neither loved God enough or rightly or his brother and it goes all the way through Jesus's teaching. [00:53:24] (17 seconds)
John is saying we can't just sing about study and believe that we ought to love we're supposed to actually love indeed and truth Paul said in Galatians 5 that it was through love that we should serve one another. [00:56:58] (18 seconds)
I want you to think about times in your life where you've gone through something difficult maybe death or a loss or maybe you lost your job or maybe you went through a difficult season and I want you to think about the love of the people around you. [00:57:54] (15 seconds)
Did you know that people don't know us by our radical declarations of logic people don't know us as christians by our mat our perfectly manicured image they know us by our love it is the very evidence that we have received radical love. [01:00:11] (22 seconds)
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