There is much confusion about this thing called love. Authentic love is best defined as, “a profound involvement in the well-being of another; loving the unlovely unconditionally.”
To be moved or motivated by love means “to provide with an incentive; move to action; compel.”
Love, for the follower of Christ, is a must (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Love is the greatest and most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8; Romans 12:9-21).
Love is to be our life-style (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Love, above all, is the primary motivation for our
caring for one another (1 Peter 4:7-10).
Love, God-Love, is the true identifying virtue of a
genuine follower of Jesus (John 13:35; Romans 5:5; 1
Thessalonians 4:9-10).
Love, the love of God, is to be “the love” of all
followers of Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-21, 5:3).
He calls us to love: will we follow?
He commanded us to do so: will we obey?
To NOT love is not merely disobeying but it is immoral not to love for we “ought” to do so (1 John 4:11)!
Love in motion is “the engine that moves us”: Will we
allow His motivating love for us be motivation (“move
us”) to love Him and those whom he loves?
LOVE IS THE MOTIVE Because God-Love Is The Greatest (1 Corinthians13:13).
LOVE IS THE MOTIVE Because God-Love is Eternal: A
Holy, Everlasting Love That Is The Motivation Of All
That He Does (John 17:23-24). God Was Love And
Loving:
…Before Creation and at Creation.
…At the Fall and at the Babel Rebellion.
…At the time of the Great Flood.
…In relating to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
…During the Exodus, Promised Land.
…Throughout the kingdoms of Saul, Solomon and
David.
…The Divided Kingdoms, Exile and the Remnant’s
Return (Read Hosea for a study in God’s Grace Given
Love).
…The 400 “Silent Years” – But God’s Providential Love was not silent!
…At “the fullness of the times” – the greatest expression of His love – in sending His only Son – “His great love where he loved us…” (Romans 5:1-6; Galatians 4:4; John 3:16).
LOVE IS THE MOTIVE Because God-Love Is Real,
Absolute And Active: God In Christ, His Beloved,
Loving Us. Love Is The Motivating Action For
Everything That God (Love) Does!
…His teaching – prompted by love.
…His miracles – performed by love.
…His life – propelled by love.
…His death – provided by love.
…His resurrection – powered by love.
…His sending the Holy Spirit – presented by
love.
…His return for His own – pronounced by
love.
…His sharing of His inheritance – promised
by love.
LOVE IS THE MOTIVE Because God’s Love Is Personal (Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:6-8; Luke 15:1ff): Indeed, Love Lifted ME!
God’s Motivating Love: A Memorial In Each
True Follower’s Heart (Romans 5:5).
God’s Motivating Love: A Placard Of Every Believer’s
Life (John 13:35).
God’s Motivating Love: A Monument Enshrined
By Every Disciple To The Timeless And Ageless Truth That “God Loved, God Loves and God Will Always Love.”
God’s Motivating Love: The Lifeless Alternatives:
1. Self-motivated.
2. Law-motivated.
3. Flesh-motivated.
4. Lust-motivated.
5. Hate-motivated.
6. Fear-motivated.
7. Anger-motivated.
8. Reaction-motivated.
9. Revenge-motivated.
10. Retaliation-motivated.
God’s Motivating Love: The Abundant Life Reality.
His Love brings healing to a broken relationship. His Love brings about peace with God, yourself and others. His Love provides the desire and determination to forgive. His Love appreciates and accepts those “unlike us”. His Love brings about togetherness after there has be fragmentation. His Love brings peace and joy where there has been brokenness and sadness. His Love crucifies selfishness allowing the raising up out of the heart “goodness, self-control, humility, kindness, gentleness, patience and unity”.
God’s Motivating Love, More Than Anything Else, Brings About Christ-Likeness (John 13:35; 1 John 4:16).
God’s Motivating Love, More Than Anything Else, Must Be That Which Moves Our Hearts To Love In Attitude And Action, As He Loves: Love Is To Be Who And What We Are To Be – We Are To Love, “Even As He Has Loved Us” (John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8/ Take The “ ‘Love/Jesus/I’ Test”).
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