One of the most precious Gemstones of our faith is given to us in the word “love.”  However, the practice of living out the love we’ve been shown in Christ is often in conflict with our natural tendency to seek that which will give comfort or pleasure rather than give love.

Observations:

The depth of your love is found in…

1. Patient & Kind

…the degree of unworthiness

Luke 6:32-36

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

2. NOT envious, boasting, proud, rude, or self-seeking

…the greatness of the price 

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

3. Not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs

…greatness of the result 

Isaiah 43:25

“I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions, for my own sake,
    and remembers your sins no more.”

4. Not delighting in evil, but rejoicing in the truth

…conforming to what is right

Galatians 4:15-16 

“Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

5. ALWAYS protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres 

…gauged by motivation

Romans 8:37-39

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Conclusion:

1. Love is seen in Jesus

Ephesians 2:4-5

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

2. Love is seen in action

3. Love is the currency of worship 

1 John 4:19-21 

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

Applications: 

• How are you at loving the unlovely? 
• What does your effort to love cost you?
• How true is your love?  Superficial or “no record of wrong?”
• Does your love stand on truth or preference?
• Are you motivated by love, or obligation?
• Have you experienced God’s love?

“Go and do likewise.” – Jesus

1 Corinthians 13:13 

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”