Monday, August 14, 2023
For the love of Pete!
How many times have we all said this or a similar expression of annoyance or desperation when we were frustrated? This one was derived from the saying “for Pete’s sake” in 1906 and was considered less offensive than saying “for Christ’s (or God’s) sake.”
This weekend, Pastor Ben kicked off our new series, For the Love, which is all about loving God and being loved by him. He pointed out that it’s ironic this phrase of frustration contains the word love. Love is something that we all want, and yet, during periods of frustration, it’s what we feel the least.
In Matthew 22, the Bible talks about the most important commandment. The Pharisees were attempting to trap Jesus, so one of them asked him which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses (Matthew 22:36). Jesus responded by saying:
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Pastor Ben pointed out that keeping these two commandments seemingly should be pretty easy—love God and love others. How hard could it be? But in reality, loving God and others can be difficult in our messed-up, self-absorbed world. Luckily, we will be diving into how God has equipped us to keep these commandments over the next few weeks.
After reading Matthew 22:37-40, it may sound like being a Christ follower entails obeying a list of rules—that we need to work hard to show God we love him. But that’s a trap based on our earthly way of thinking. Working hard can result in earthly rewards, but working hard to please God does not result in receiving his love. We don’t have to earn what we have already been freely given.
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This is the most popular verse in the Bible, and it tells us with confidence that God loves the world. If we can’t earn God’s love, what are we to do? Ben put it this way: Loving God is our response to his love for us. It’s that simple! However, in the dark seasons of our lives, we may not feel certain that God loves us. And unfortunately, as we heard over the weekend, how we love often reflects how we feel God loves us.
Instead, this week, let's step into God’s deep love for us—by loving him with our heart, soul, and mind and by loving others as we love ourselves.
Questions:
Have you fallen into the trap of loving God by working hard for him? If so, how can you correct this misconception?
Do you feel that God loves you? If not, do you think you are the only person who feels this way? What step can you take to remind you of God’s love for you each day and demonstrate your gratitude in return?
Next Steps:
Engage in 21 Days of Prayer by texting “21DAYS” to 419-419-0707. We are rolling out our new app this week. To get the app, text “GETAPP” to 419-419-0707.
Continue reading the LIO this week to better understand God’s great love for us; how we respond to God’s love by loving him with all our heart, soul, and mind; and where our real value comes from.
Prayer:
21 Days of Prayer
Day 1 Prayer Focus - For God to be Known (1 John 4:10-11)
Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for your great love for us, that you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and to reconcile us to you. We praise You for your grace and mercy, which are new every morning. We pray for our cities, Lord, that they may be places of peace, justice, and righteousness. We pray that you would protect the innocent, comfort the grieving, and restore the broken. We ask you to fill us with your love, Lord, that we may love one another as you have loved us. Help us to overcome evil with good, to forgive as you have forgiven us, and to serve one another in humility. Help us to be salt and light in this dark world—to shine your truth and grace to those who do not know you. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
1 John 4:10-11
10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.