The Love of God : Diving Deeper

See Jesus

Have you ever heard the phrase, "It takes God to love God?"

Sometimes, accepting Jesus can feel like a paradox. Like Pastor Merodee said on Sunday, we're born with broken hearts. So then how does God expect us, with our broken hearts, to love Him enough to accept Him as Lord?

It sounds strange, but He doesn't!

When we accept Jesus, we receive Him as Lord by grace through faith, and not our own faith, but faith that is a gift from God.

We don't accept Jesus by finding enough love within ourselves to follow Him, we accept Him by believing by faith that His love is big enough for the both of us. The bible says it's not my kindness that leads me to repentance, its His kindness!

Sometimes, I can get frustrated with myself that I don't love God enough. I'll try to think and strategize, or work harder, or do better, and through that I think I'll increase my love for the Lord.

But, all of my efforts prove fruitless! The only thing that ever stirs up or increases my love for the Lord is His love for me. When I receive God's love for me, I find that there's so much of it that it overflows out of me, back to God. It will flow back to God through worship, or prayer, or serving, or practicing patience and kindness, or some other thing that I simply don't have the capacity for when operating out of my own love.

God knows that without His love, my heart is empty and broken. He doesn't expect me to love Him from my lack of love, instead He lavishes His love on me and give me more than enough. 1 John 4:10a says it like this: "This is real love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us."

One of the most powerful ways I know to receive the love of God is through His Word, because when I read the words of God in scripture, I know (that I know that I know that I know!) it's true.

Today, I encountered the Lord's love for me when I read this verse in Psalm 38:9:

"You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh."

When I read those words today, it was like the Lord opened my heart and read me like a letter. He said: "I see you. I hear you. I know you. I love you."

When I hear those words, suddenly His love is big enough for the both of us. Suddenly, His overwhelming, overflowing love is pouring out of me and back to Him: "You see me. You know me. You hear me. I love you too."

Jesus has personal revelations of love for each one of us in His Word. His love is so big that He never runs out of expressions of love, made just for me, and just for you.

-Pastor Nicole

Know Jesus

This week, you can dive deeper into the message through one or all of the following:

Ask the Lord to lead you to His words of love for you in scripture. Here's a link to 15 bible verses about the love of God, if you're looking for somewhere to start!
Do a DBS on 1 John 4:10
Listen to "Dancing on the Waves" by We the Kingdom.
Consider praying for the prayer prompts this week.

Discovery Bible Study

TO BEGIN
Pray and ask Holy Spirit to teach you about God from His word.
Next, read the verse a couple of times.
Now, ask these questions:
What does this tell me about God/Jesus?
What does this tell me about people?
How can I respond to what I just read?
When you’re done asking these questions, it’s a great idea to pray and thank God for teaching you more about who He is and who you are!

Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a way for anyone, anywhere to read God's word! You can dive deeper into this week's message by doing a DBS one any one or all of these scriptures. DBS is a great tool to use for your own devotions, as a bible study with friends, or as an evangelism tool!

1 John 4:10
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

Prayer Prompts

Pray for the Lord to lead us in worship by His Spirit.
Pray for deeper revelation of the heart of God towards us and towards others.
Pray for the influx of souls into the Kingdom! Pray that the love of God would shine through the family as we are on mission through hospitality.

Share Jesus

You can share this week's podcast, email, or blog post. Check out volunteer opportunities to get involved in the work of sharing Jesus in our church family and community.

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