Sermon Notes, February 12, 2012

Sermon Notes, February 12, 2012

C.M. Pruitt

            Pastor C.M.’s message was titled “God’s Valentine—A Love Worth Giving.” His text was John 15:9-17—“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Remain in my love.  When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!  This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other.” (NLT)  Jesus uses “love” 18 times as recorded in John 13-17, on the last day of His life.  

            St. Valentine was a priest who lived during the reign of Claudius the Cruel.  Claudius thought that the reason men weren’t volunteering for his army was because they were married, so he outlawed marriage.  Valentine performed marriages against this edict. He was committed to do the right thing and was willing to die for it.  He was executed by Claudius on February 14, 269. 

            How do we develop and nurture a love worth giving?

Receive His love.  “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Live within my love.” (John 15:9, TLB)  He loves us, warts and all.  All the theology we need is summed up in one song: Jesus Loves Me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  It comes from the story Say and Seal by Anna and Susan Warner, published in 1860.  Bradbury added verses and a tune.  Jesus gives us what we need in order to do what is right, if we remain in His love.  “I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NLT)   Quit ‘trying’ and let God love you.  Be connected to the vine; let Him flow through you.

Reciprocate His love.  Love Him back.  Disciples were servants of their master, but Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing.  But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father.”  (John 15:14-15, NCV)  Be a friend to Him.  Where am I when He needs me?  You let people know you love Jesus by the way you live.  Your love for God should be pleasing Him.  Does He consume our thinking?  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”  (Mark 12:30, NCV)  “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” (Romans 12:1, MSG)  Your whole life is for Him.  Live so you bring joy to God’s love.

Recycle His love.  Demonstrate His love in service to others.  “This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17 NIV)  Share His love with others.  “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NIV)  The scope and intensity of His love is unlimited.  “He rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist.  Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.” (John 13:4-5, TEV)  The Son of the Living God demonstrated God’s love by doing a servant’s job, before His betrayal, trial, and execution.  He served because He loved.

St. Valentine became a saint by Receiving, Reciprocating, and Recycling God’s love.  We, too, can develop and nurture this love worth giving.  Relax, and let God love you.