2016.8.28 礼拝

2016.8.28 礼拝

2016.8.28 Ephesians 5:22-27 [Putting Love of Christ into Practice]　

Review of the message in August:

Love is the motive for everything and spiritual gifts, knowledge, faith, and action or works mean nothing without Love.

１Corinthians 13:1-3 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

We are weak and imperfect. With a little problem or difficulty, we are led astray and disregard the love of Christ. That is why we have to be conscious of Christ’s command to love and work for it. Every day is a struggle but we can start the day by greeting the nearest person (spouse, children, siblings) with love and thanks to God (and thanks to your wife e.g. for preparing breakfast) the first thing in the morning. Happiness does not come automatically nor can we take it for granted without efforts on our side.

How we could show our love to others? Jesus has the answer.

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

We love God because God loved us first. Likewise, if we wish to be loved, we must first love others and this, not only by words alone, but with deeds.

Where do we start from?

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

God showed his love while we were still sinners and enemies through the death of Jesus and forgiveness of our sins. We are called to forgive and love others as much as God has loved us.

Who do we love to start with?

Matthew 5:46-47 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Since our family should love us, can we not start with them? Before, we can answer that we need to make sure whether we really love those who love us. Do we make the right choice of priorities?

To love one another is our goal to build up the church.

Ephesians 5:26-27 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Our goal is to build the body of Christ in love and to use our gifts together in Christ ‘s love. We are called to love everyone far and near. But we can start by expressing God’s love to our nearest ones as Jesus commanded.

There would be times when we would not be able to do it right, however, we should not try to hide it or pretend. We should admit our shortcomings and keep on trying.