Heartfelt Affection: The Call to Love All Christians

Devotional

Day 1: Love Beyond Actions

True Christian love is not limited to actions or words; it requires a heartfelt affection that transcends mere deeds. This love involves a deep emotional connection with others, even those who may be difficult to love. It is a call to genuinely feel affection for one another, extending beyond those we find likable or agreeable. This kind of love challenges us to embrace all Christians, including those who may frustrate or disappoint us, as part of our spiritual family. [03:15]

1 John 3:18-19 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you begin to cultivate genuine affection for them today, beyond just kind actions or words?

Day 2: Affection as a Witness

Loving each other with tender affection is a testament to the truth that God is our Father. This love reflects the familial bond we share as members of God's family and serves as a powerful witness to the world. When we love with heartfelt affection, we demonstrate the reality of our faith and testify to the world that we are indeed part of God's family. This love is a reflection of God's own affection for us, and it is through this love that we show the world the truth of our spiritual heritage. [14:12]

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 can your love for fellow Christians serve as a witness to those around you? What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate this love?

Day 3: Prayer and Heavenly Focus

To cultivate the kind of love that reflects God's affection, we must engage in prayer and focus on heavenly realities. By setting our minds on spiritual truths, we can overcome earthly frustrations and develop genuine affection for one another. This involves asking God to enlarge our hearts and remind us of the spiritual truths that unite us. Through prayer and a heavenly focus, we can grow in our ability to love others with heartfelt affection, even in challenging circumstances. [17:30]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What earthly frustrations are hindering your ability to love others? How can you shift your focus to heavenly realities through prayer today?

Day 4: Growth in Love

Love is not an all-or-nothing proposition but a journey of growth. We are called to continually seek new levels of affection for one another, recognizing that we are all at different stages in this journey. This growth requires patience and a willingness to embrace the process of developing deeper connections with others. As we grow in love, we reflect the transformative power of God's love in our lives and demonstrate our commitment to living out our faith in meaningful ways. [22:04]

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to grow in love? What steps can you take this week to actively pursue this growth?

Day 5: Rejecting Relational Fatalism

We must reject the belief that certain relationships are beyond repair. With God's transformative power, we can overcome past hurts and develop genuine affection for those we find difficult to love. This involves believing in the possibility of healing and renewal in our relationships, trusting that God's love can bring about change. By rejecting relational fatalism, we open ourselves to the potential for deeper connections and a more profound experience of God's love in our lives. [23:04]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life that feels beyond repair? How can you invite God's transformative power into this relationship today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound call to love all Christians with heartfelt affection, as outlined in Romans 12:10. This love transcends mere actions and extends into the realm of emotions and feelings. It's not just about doing good deeds or speaking kindly; it's about genuinely feeling affection for one another, even when it's challenging. This call to love is not limited to those we find likable or agreeable but extends to all Christians, including those who may frustrate or disappoint us.

We delved into the different types of love as described by C.S. Lewis in "The Four Loves," focusing on "storge," or affection, which is the kind of love we are called to have for one another. This affection is akin to the love one might have for a family member or a cherished object. It's a deep, emotional connection that reflects the familial bond we share as members of God's family.

The importance of this love lies in its witness to the truth that God is our Father. When we love each other with tender affection, we testify to the world and to ourselves that we are indeed part of God's family. This love is a reflection of God's own affection for us, and it is through this love that we demonstrate the reality of our faith.

To cultivate this kind of love, we must engage in prayer, asking God to enlarge our hearts. We must focus on heavenly realities rather than earthly frustrations, reminding ourselves of the spiritual truths that unite us. Love is not an all-or-nothing proposition but a growing journey, and we are called to continually seek new levels of affection for one another. Finally, we must reject relational fatalism, believing instead in the transformative power of God's love to heal and renew our relationships.

Key Takeaways

1. Love Beyond Actions: True Christian love goes beyond actions and words; it requires heartfelt affection. This love is not just about doing good deeds but involves a deep emotional connection with others, even those who may be difficult to love. [03:15]
2. Affection as a Witness: Loving each other with tender affection is a testament to the truth that God is our Father. It reflects the familial bond we share as members of God's family and serves as a powerful witness to the world. [14:12]
3. Prayer and Heavenly Focus: To cultivate this love, we must engage in prayer and focus on heavenly realities. By setting our minds on spiritual truths, we can overcome earthly frustrations and develop genuine affection for one another. [17:30]
4. Growth in Love: Love is not an all-or-nothing proposition but a journey of growth. We are called to continually seek new levels of affection for one another, recognizing that we are all at different stages in this journey. [22:04]
5. Rejecting Relational Fatalism: We must reject the belief that certain relationships are beyond repair. With God's transformative power, we can overcome past hurts and develop genuine affection for those we find difficult to love. [23:04]
** [23:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Love All Christians
[00:45] - Enlarging Our Hearts
[01:04] - Loving Your Neighbor
[02:03] - Heartfelt Affection
[03:15] - Love Beyond Actions
[04:04] - Emotional Connection
[05:26] - Brotherly Affection
[06:00] - C.S. Lewis's Four Loves
[08:16] - Scriptural Support
[10:07] - Paul's Affection
[11:13] - Open Wide Your Heart
[12:11] - Holy Kiss of Love
[13:57] - Witness to God's Truth
[15:20] - Cultivating Affection
[17:30] - Prayer and Focus
[21:09] - Growth in Love
[23:04] - Rejecting Fatalism

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:10
- 1 Peter 1:22
- Philippians 1:8

Observation Questions:

According to Romans 12:10, what kind of love are Christians called to have for one another? How does this differ from simply performing good deeds? [04:35]
In the sermon, how does John Piper describe the type of affection we should have for fellow Christians? What analogy does he use to explain this affection? [07:44]
What does 1 Peter 1:22 say about the nature of love among believers? How does this align with the sermon’s message on heartfelt affection? [08:30]
How does Paul express his affection for the Philippians in Philippians 1:8, and what does this reveal about the depth of Christian love? [10:07]

Interpretation Questions:

Why does the sermon emphasize the importance of feeling affection for all Christians, even those who are difficult to love? How does this reflect our relationship with God? [14:12]
How does the concept of "storge" or familial affection, as discussed in the sermon, challenge our typical understanding of love within the church community? [07:44]
What role does prayer play in cultivating the kind of love described in Romans 12:10, according to the sermon? How might this practice transform our relationships? [15:48]
The sermon mentions rejecting relational fatalism. What does this mean, and how can embracing this idea change the way we approach difficult relationships? [23:04]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a relationship with a fellow Christian that has been challenging for you. What steps can you take this week to begin feeling genuine affection for this person? [15:20]
The sermon suggests focusing on heavenly realities rather than earthly frustrations. What specific spiritual truths can you meditate on to help you love others more deeply? [17:51]
Consider a time when you felt your heart narrowing towards someone due to past hurts. How can you actively work to "open wide your heart" as Paul encourages in 2 Corinthians 6:11? [11:13]
How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to ask God to enlarge your heart for others? What specific prayer might you start with? [15:48]
Think of a person in your life who you find difficult to love. What is one practical way you can show them affection this week, even if it feels challenging? [18:44]
The sermon talks about love being a journey of growth. What is one small step you can take this week to grow in your affection for others? [22:04]
How can you challenge any relational fatalism you might feel about a specific relationship? What is one action you can take to invite God's transformative power into that relationship? [23:04]

Sermon Clips

I want to call you to love the people in this room and other Christians that you know with tender heartfelt fervent affection. This is different; this is more; this is different than doing nice things for them. This is different than returning good for evil. This is different even than praying for them. It's different even than blessing those who curse you. [00:02:18]

Love is more than a feeling. It is true that love is More Than A Feeling and that when you don't feel good feelings towards somebody, you should still do good things for them if it lies within your power to do a right and kind and decent thing for somebody, and you don't feel warm toward them at that moment, do it anyway and ask God to help you. [00:03:21]

Be devoted to one another in Brotherly Love. Now the words here are very important because these are not throwaway words. The Rev Standard Version says love another with brotherly affection. This word be devoted to or love is really an adjective in the original be this kind of person, and it is a kind of love that is not just doing, not just saying, but feeling. [00:05:13]

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the Brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. It's fervent, and it's from the heart. It's not just doing things dutifully by willpower; it is fervent, and it is Flowing out of the heart. We are called to be changed into the kind of people that when we look at one another after this service. [00:08:34]

Loving each other with tender-hearted affection is a witness to the truth that God is our father. If we don't love one another with tender-hearted affection, we are lying about who God is and who we are in him. You are my brother and my sister. I am your brother. We have one father, and when we love each other with affection, we testify to our own consciences and to each other and to the world that that is true. [00:13:57]

Pray desperately, pray earnestly. You see right here in the middle right here in the middle of this green sheet is this little box it ought to just be pulsating called prayer. Five half-hour times are set aside during the week for prayer in this church. You know one of the reasons for that why I press for that as a pastor corporate praying not just individual praying. [00:15:20]

Focus on Heavenly reality, not just Earthly frustration in relationships. One of the reasons we do not feel affection for one another is because the human way of handling disappointments is to think about them over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. [00:17:40]

Do not fall prey to the thought that Love Is An All or Nothing thing instead of a growing thing. I think if you heard me say this morning there are two possibilities in the Christian Life: failure and strong affection for all Christians, you all walk out hopeless. I would too. What I want you to hear is this: you are being called this morning to a new level of affection, and there are many, many levels. [00:21:26]

Don't be a relational fatalist. A relational fatalist is somebody who first says this relationship has been so bad for so long, and the track record and the history of it is filled with so much pain and so many letdowns and so many disappointments and so much frustration that there is no way I could ever feel toward this person affection. [00:23:04]

The Bible does not say Romans 12:10 does not say love one another with brotherly affection unless you grew up in a family where there was no affection. It doesn't say that. It says love one another with brotherly affection because you have a father, a new father, a different father, a perfect father, an absolutely affectionate father who's rich in Mercy, great in love, whose whole Enterprise in the church is to fix broken people. [00:24:14]

Nobody grew up in a perfect family. Everybody's wounded. Everybody's broken. Everybody's at different layers. But do we believe in God? Do we believe in the Holy Spirit? We do, and his word comes to us calling us this morning to new levels. This is light and Truth god-centered preaching to help you see Christ clearly and treasure him truly. [00:24:55]

The texts of the New Testament, especially our text here in Romans 12:10, call us not just to do good things for each other, not just to pray for each other, not just to speak kindly of each other, but to feel something toward each other. Now why is this so important? It is so important because loving each other with tender-hearted affection is a witness to the truth that God is our father. [00:13:39]

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