Advent: Love
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
On a cold day in 1942, inside a Nazi concentration camp, a lone, young boy looks beyond the barbed wire and sees a young girl pass by. She too, is moved by his presence. In an effort to give expression to her feelings, she throws a red apple over the fence -- a sign of life, hope, and love. The young boy bends over, picks up the apple.A ray of light has pierced his darkness.
The following day, thinking he is crazy for even entertaining the notion of seeing this young girl again, he looks out beyond the fence, hoping. On the other side of the barbed wire, the young girl yearns to see again this tragic figure who moved her so. She comes prepared with apple in hand.
Despite another day of wintry blizzards and chilling air, two hearts are warmed once again as the apple passes over the barbed wire.
The scene is repeated for several days.The two young spirits on opposite sides of the fence look forward to seeing each other, if only for a moment and if only to exchange a few words.
The interaction is always accompanied by an exchange of inexplicably heartening feelings.
At the last of these momentary meetings, the young boy greets his sweet friend with a frown and says, "Tomorrow, don't bring me an apple, I will not be here. They are sending me to another camp."
The young boy walks away, too heartbroken to look back. From that day forward, the calming image of the sweet girl would appear to him in moments of anguish. Her eyes, her words, her thoughtfulness, her red apple, all were a recurring vision that would break his night time sweats.
His family died in the war. The life he had known had all but vanished, but this one memory remained alive and gave him hope.
In 1957 in the United States, two adults, both immigrants, are set up on a blind date.
"And where were you during the war?" inquires the woman.
"I was in a concentration camp in Germany," the man replies.
"I remember I used to throw apples over the fence to a boy who was in a concentration camp," she recalls.
With a feeling of shock, the man speaks. "And did that boy say to you one day, 'Don't bring an apple anymore because I am being sent to another camp?'"
"Why, yes," she responds, "but how could you possibly know that?"
He looks into her eyes and says, "I was that young boy."
There is a brief silence, and then he continues, "I was separated from you then, and I don't ever want to be without you again. Will you marry me?" They embrace one another as she says, "Yes."
On Valentine's Day 1996, on national telecast of the Oprah Winfrey show, this same man affirmed his enduring love to his wife of forty years. "You fed me in the concentration camp," he said, "you fed me
throughout all these years; now, I remain hungry if only for your love."
The darkest moments of one's life may carry the seeds of the brightest tomorrow
Love…defining it can be tough can’t it. There is the love of cars, pumpkin pie, presents, parents, children and spouse. There are many types and kinds of love…then there is the love of God.
There is a love deeper than that which we are capable of having. A love much deeper, wider, higher and longer than we could ever know. This is the love of God…
1 John 4:8
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Love — “to have love for someone or something, based on sincere appreciation and high regard—‘to love, to regard with affection, loving concern, love”
God is the fullest expression and definition of what love is. We cannot fully comprehend God so we cannot fully comprehend love. But we can have a glimpse. We can have a peek at what real love is when we look at the person and life of Jesus.
Romans 5:8
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Real love is sacrificial in nature. The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love, high regard, affection and concern for us.
We often say we love someone but the proof is when we lay down our life for them. How much of self are you giving away for them? Not because they deserve it, ask for it or in some cases even want it…but out of concern and regard for the other person you simply give of your life.
Christ died for us before we were born…while we were still sinners…before we asked for His salvation or were even capable of knowing of His work on the cross.
And before you write off such love as something God has for everyone other than yourself remember John 3:16
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
God loved the world…this is an indicator that He loved and loves not only the saved but the unsaved. God loves everyone to the point of willingly sending His son to die for their sins. Even for those who would never receive His gift of salvation.
God’s love and act of love in the cross itself were never dependent upon us or our response…it was always about Him and His perfect character which led Him to give His life for our sins.
Jesus died for our sins...
But First
But First
But before the cross came the manger. Love did not begin nor did the gift commence when the nails went through the hands of our Jesus. The gift was given on that night in Bethlehem.
Philippians 2:5-8
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
This is when the gift began…the moment Jesus set aside His glory in heaven in order to be born of a virgin in a filthy manger.
Luke 2:4-7
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David,
to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
From the glory of heaven to being wrapped in swaddling clothes as a fragile, weak, helpless infant in a place of filth and the stench of animal waste.
He left heaven for earth...took the position of a slave, became a servant of the Father’s plan for salvation. This incredible emptying of Himself was the first expression of His love for us and the step we celebrate on Christmas Day.
I do not believe we can begin to understand the sacrifice of the manger on this side of heaven. This is all we know and heaven is only a product of our faith and vivid imagination.
We have no grasp the beauty, glory or majesty that Jesus left when He stepped down from heaven to earth.
But…this is His love…He is love!
Our Response...
Our Response...
First Response — Our first response to the love of God expressed in Jesus is to admit our sins, believe He died on the Cross to pay for our sins and commit our life to Him. We must receive His love by our faith in Him.
Second Response — Love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength for the rest of our life. Remember love is the giving of ourselves. Jesus said if we love Him we would obey His commandments… John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.
If any man would follow Jesus He must do what Jesus did…go to the cross, die and be raised to live a new life in Jesus. Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We are saved to make Him Lord of our life…to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. In light of what He has done for us could we dare offer any less than the whole of ourself to Him?
Third Response — Love your neighbor as yourself. Find ways to give your life away in the service of others the way Jesus did in service to you!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Have you had a time when you gave your heart to Jesus? When you A,B,C?
Can you honestly say this morning that you love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? Would your Day Timer or calendar prove it? Would your bank account prove it?
If you want to know where your heart is just look to those two places: Where you spend your time and where you spend your money. There you will find your greatest love…the two are a diagnostic test with brutally honest results.
This is the time to make a new commitment. Advent is the beginning of the Christian calendar and a time for the turning of the page. Is Christ calling you to love better in 2021?
Ways to Love Better in 2021: (Quality Time, Words of Life, Gifts to the Poor, Participation in the Great Commission)
Spend time with God — (Quality Time) Receive the love of Christ and believe Jesus loves you! How is your friendship with Jesus? Remember time tells the tale Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Share Jesus with someone each week — (Words of Life) Christ told us the second greatest commandment was to love our neighbor as ourself. The highest and greatest way to do this is to share Christ. Mark 12:31
The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
Giving of Gifts — (Gifts to Those in Need) All around us there are those who have physical needs…needs we can meet with the abundance of blessings we have received. We give in Jesus name and hope the needs met with open a door for them to receive Christ. Lottie Moon 1 John 3:16-18
This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him?
Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
Live the Commission — (Participate in the Great Commission) Lottie Moon Video Here
The Great Commission was the last words of Jesus to His disciples before leaving the earth. It is the business of every follower to do as He commanded us to do! Jesus sent us out into the world to evangelize the lost. Pray, give and go!
Ephesians 2:10 “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do.”
Grow in love of God and others…let Jesus be your example and follow Him…commit to pray and love better in 2021!
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