True Love: The Power of Presence

Love is not just a feeling or a fleeting emotion—it is a commitment to be present with others for their good. This presence is at the very heart of God’s character. God is not distant or detached; He is Emmanuel, God with us. The story of love, as revealed in 1 John 4, shows that God’s love is demonstrated most powerfully in His willingness to draw near, to send His Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Our ability to love others is rooted in the reality that God first loved us, and His love is made complete as we extend that same presence to others.

Our culture often celebrates the idea of love but struggles with its cost. True love requires more than proximity; it demands intentional presence—giving our time, attention, and listening ear. The stories of Martha and Mary remind us that even in our busyness and distraction, Jesus is present in the room, loving us as we are. God’s love is not reserved for those who always get it right; He loves the “Marthas” among us, those who are anxious, distracted, or trying to fix everything. In the same way, we are called to be present with others, not just physically, but with our full attention and open hearts.

Being present is costly. It means setting aside distractions, resisting the urge to multitask, and truly listening. In a world where technology allows us to be virtually everywhere, we often find ourselves only proximate, not truly present. The challenge is to move beyond surface-level interactions and to practice the kind of attentive presence that makes others feel heard and valued. As David Augsburger said, “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” This is true in our relationships with God as well as with others.

God’s presence with us is never patchy or inconsistent. He indwells us by His Spirit and is always available. The question is, how present are we with Him? How present are we with those we love, and with those we are learning to love? The invitation is to make deliberate choices to be truly present—with God and with others—so that His love may overflow through us. Let us ask for God’s help to practice giving time, attention, and listening, growing to be more like Jesus, who is the perfect example of love made present.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Love is Measured by Presence, Not Proximity True love is not simply being near someone, but being truly present—offering our undivided attention and care. God’s love is demonstrated in His willingness to be with us, not just for us. Our growth in Christlikeness is measured by our increasing ability to be present with others for their good, just as God is present with us. [40:24]
• 2. God’s Love Embraces the Distracted and Anxious The stories of Martha and Mary reveal that God’s love is not reserved for the serene or the spiritually focused. Even in our moments of distraction, anxiety, or busyness, Jesus is present and loving. God delights in being with us, even when we are struggling to be with Him, reminding us that His love is steadfast and not dependent on our performance. [45:16]
• 3. Attentive Listening is a Profound Act of Love Listening deeply to another person is one of the clearest ways to communicate love. As Augsburger notes, being heard and being loved are nearly indistinguishable for most people. Practicing attentive listening—setting aside our own agendas and distractions—creates space for others to feel valued and cared for, mirroring the way God listens to us. [54:31]
• 4. The Cost of Presence is the Cost of Love Our culture enjoys the idea of love but often resists its demands, especially the sacrifice of time and attention. True presence requires us to pay the cost of love by giving ourselves fully, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. This sacrificial presence is what transforms relationships and allows God’s love to be made complete in us. [63:40]
• 5. Technology Can Hinder True Presence While technology offers unprecedented opportunities for connection, it can also undermine genuine presence by fostering distraction and superficiality. The challenge is to use these tools wisely, ensuring that we are not just physically or virtually proximate, but truly present—attentive, engaged, and loving in our interactions with God and others. [59:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Anticipation and the Power of Presence
• [03:30] - Introducing the Story of Love Series
• [05:10] - Sylv’s Story: Longing for Attention
• [08:20] - 1 John 4: God’s Love Made Manifest
• [12:00] - Love as the Measure of Christlikeness
• [15:00] - The Cost of Love in Our Culture
• [18:30] - Martha and Mary: Presence in the Living Room
• [23:00] - God’s Presence with Us: Psalm Reflections
• [27:00] - Our Presence with God and Others
• [31:00] - The Exchange of Love: Overflowing to Others
• [35:00] - Human Limitations and the Challenge of Presence
• [40:00] - Listening as Love: Lessons from Medicine
• [47:00] - Technology: Proximity vs. Presence
• [53:00] - Practicing Presence: The Cost and the Call
• [63:40] - Prayer and Commitment to Be Present

Bible Reading

1 John 4:7-12, 16, 19 (ESV) — > 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
> 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
> 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
> 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
> 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
> 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
> 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
> 19 We love because he first loved us.

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV) — > 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
> 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching,
> 40 but Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
> 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
> 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV) — > 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
> 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
> 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
> 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 4, how did God show His love for us? ([42:58])
2. In the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10), what was Martha doing, and what was Mary doing when Jesus was present in their home? ([44:00])
3. What does Psalm 139 say about God’s presence with us, no matter where we go? ([47:00])
4. In the sermon, what was the definition given for love in this series? ([42:09])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “Love is a commitment to be present with another for their good.” How does this definition challenge or expand your understanding of love compared to how our culture usually defines it? ([42:09])
2. Why do you think Jesus affirmed Mary’s choice to sit and listen, rather than Martha’s busyness? What does this say about the value of presence over activity? ([44:00])
3. The preacher mentioned that God’s love is for the “Marthas”—those who are anxious, distracted, or trying to fix everything. What does this reveal about God’s character and how He relates to us in our struggles? ([45:16])
4. The sermon quotes David Augsburger: “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” Why is attentive listening such a powerful expression of love? ([54:31])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to be truly present, not just physically near. Think about your closest relationships—are there people you are often proximate to, but not truly present with? What would it look like to give them your full attention this week? ([59:07])
2. Technology can make us feel connected but also distract us from real presence. Are there specific ways technology is making your presence with God or others “patchy”? What is one step you could take to reduce those distractions? ([59:07])
3. The preacher shared that God’s presence with us is never patchy, but our presence with Him often is. How would you describe your presence with God lately? What is one practical way you could be more present with Him this week? ([01:04:40])
4. When was the last time you felt truly heard by someone? How did it affect you? Is there someone in your life who needs you to listen to them in that way? ([54:31])
5. The story of Martha and Mary shows that Jesus loves us even when we are distracted or anxious. How does this truth encourage you in your current season of life? ([45:16])
6. The cost of presence is often time and attention. What is one activity or distraction you could set aside this week to be more present with someone who needs your love? ([01:03:40])
7. The preacher ended by inviting us to decide who we will be intentionally present with this week. Who is one person God is putting on your heart to be present with, and what will you do to show them love? ([01:05:44])