Week 6 , 30 May 2010
Sermon: The Secrets to Lasting Love
Scripture Reference: Matthew 24:9-12, 1 Corinthians 13:7How would you answer this question: Is there such a thing as ‘lasting love’?
Jesus says in Matthew 24:9-12 that there will come a time where the love of most will grow cold. There will be hatred, persecution, betrayal and wickedness:
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…
Today, this process of the hardening of the heart may have begun for many of us. We may have encountered unbelief, betrayal, or loss of faith between spouses, friends and church members. There are many of us who are hurting. Six years ago, I had a hurtful experience. It was as if I was walking through this valley of the shadow of death. I questioned the foundation of my faith; I felt like giving up. My friends were there for me but they could not give me relief. Only when I saw God in my situation then did I experience a breakthrough and healing.
We find it difficult to love because we are challenged by our expectations or previously bad experiences of love. We fear being hurt and betrayed. However God is issuing us an invitation today: God wants us to believe that there is such a thing as 'lasting love.' 1 Corinthians 13:7 says love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
The Secrets to Lasting Love
What then are the secrets to lasting love?
1. Knowing God's love in Jesus Christ
For every problem we face, God wants us to see Him in the situation. He wants us to see how big He is, how sovereign and victorious He is over the situation. When we face trials in relationships, we should rejoice and strive to see God even more. God wants us to know that He is always there to reveal Himself to us and help us. He reaches out to us and never gives up on us.
God makes a new covenant with us. He says that if we know Him, He will know us. Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40) In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives a new commandment. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
2. Responding to God's love in Jesus Christ
By knowing God and walking with Him, we will not function out of fear and insecurity, but out of His love. We love because He first loved us. God calls us to remain in Jesus and respond to His everlasting love today. God invites us to fix our eyes on Jesus. He invites us to come into His presence. He will turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. When we see Jesus in our circumstances, He will help us turn away our anger, bitterness, criticism and cynicism, and fill us with His love and peace, patience and kindness, goodness and perseverance, trust and hope.
The secrets to lasting love is knowing and responding to God's love in Jesus Christ. Love never fails. God is love. God never fails.
By Mrs Susan Chan
Bedok Methodist Church
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