The Joy of Loving (Romans 8:37-39)
Gary McManus, 06/05/2022Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
June 6, 2022
Romans 8:37-39
Can remember the feeling of “being in love”?
It is an almost universal HUMAN experience.
EVERY SOCIETY that has left WRITTEN records
testifies to the experience of romantic love.
The Bible has its own love poem, if you can accept
That. [Other interpreters claim that the Song of Solomon something else. ]
It IS in the Bible means that God knows ALL about it.
Love is enjoyment, rapture, beautiful; the beloved is
beautiful.
Pastor keeps love songs on a playlist; 250 favorites
that plays for15 hours!
One of the foundational songs in the list:
The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News.
The phrase or idea of the “power of love” is
missing in the hymnal. But doesn’t John’s letter say,
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
But do we Americans understand the power of love?
See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
American don’t like those phrases.
Some American men still believe that love and violence go together.
KJV: “long suffering” (2 Corinthians 6:6, Ephesians 4:2) “long suffering” = patience, great patience, utmost patience, forbearance, perseverance.
Do we want to have faith to move mountains (but without love)? Apostle Paul’s response: “I AM nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Our Lord’s love, that Jesus shares with us, is a powerful love. Another aspect of being in love is that love is fun. (while the love is to some degree mutual/shared)
Rejected love or unappreciated love is painful to the
loving person. So it was with Jesus on earth and so it
is with our Lord every day.
In the Book of Acts, several people want something of what Jesus offers. (See Simon Acts 8:18) They do not want the transformation of love.
There is joy in LOVING others.
--birthing mothers
--grandparents
THAT kind of love. . .God has for you and me also.
What do YOU make of Hebrews 12:2?
Science even states that doing good brings joy—a mood lift.
So, Jesus: “love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) . . .will be enjoyable?
See Zephaniah 3:17.
For Pentecost Sunday, 1 Thessalonians 1:6 and Luke 10:21—
the JOY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. . .this same joy is OURS.
One more note: Satan is NOT powerful to the believer. (Romans 8:38- Romans 8:39)
Participate with joy in God’s love for you and others.
Amen.
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