ACT 11: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

MARCH 16, 2022

Romans 5:8

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 13:13

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

1 John 4:9-10

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 3:1

1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

John 3:16

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.

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Love means different things to different people. It might look like hanging up the bathroom towels after you use them, instead of leaving them on the floor. It might look like a special surprise. It might look like a day spent in someone's company. It might just be a pat on the back and a smile. But each of us is built to give and receive love. It's a basic need. 

Perhaps before showing love to someone today, we should consider two things first: (1) In what ways does that person experience love the most? Do they prefer acts of service, gifts, quality time? (2) What kind of love do you most struggle to express? These are meant to help us think about the ways we might challenge ourselves to step outside our comfort zone and express an act of love to someone the way THEY need to be loved today.

Without oxygen and food and water, we can't survive. But there’s something else. Something just as crucial to our survival.

In one orphanage, it was discovered the babies were not thriving. And, even though they were being fed properly, some were dying. Researchers finally uncovered the reason. These babies were not being held or touched. They were not being loved.

Without love a baby will not survive. Neither will we. 

"Love, like oxygen, is vital."  (saw this on a post recently)

We use the word LOVE about all kinds of things – we love our spouse. Or a kitten. Or kitten Video. Or a holiday on the beach. Or a movie. Or a cup of tea/coffee. Or cake, Or Pizza. We use the word "love" lightly. What is love? Hasn’t it got to be more than that…? 

Sally Lloyd-Jones wrote this entry in her devotional:

What is love? Is it a feeling in your heart?

The Bible says Love is much more: it is patient and kind, never bears a grudge, doesn’t demand its own way, always wants the best for someone else, never puts itself first, never gets jealous, isn’t proud, doesn’t boast, isn’t rude, always hopes, never stops.

Oh dear, that’s quite a list. Who can love like that?

Only one.

He left his father and his throne and came to live with us. And showed us what love was really like.

Because, you see, Love isn’t mostly a list.

It’s a Person.

May the One whose name is Love, the One who made us from love, to love, may he fill our hearts and our souls and our minds today. And may we be open doors through which He may love the world