no greater love

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the word LOVE??

For some of you, maybe your boyfriend//girlfriend or husband//wife comes to mind. For some, it may be your favorite romance movie… maybe The Notebook or The Longest Ride?? We associate lots of colors with love—pink, purple, & red— & several objects— flowers, chocolate, lips, & hearts. Many people believe that their purpose in life is to find the one “who completes them,” their “other half.” In fact, this becomes their reason for getting out of bed each morning, to continue the search. Whether you love love or feel let down by love, this message is for YOU!!

Some people may think I’m unqualified to write about love, but I disagree. I have encountered Perfect Love. Yes, PERFECT Love. It’s a person & His name is Jesus. No matter where you may find yourself relationally, I can assure you that NOWHERE on this planet can you find anyone who will love you as deeply as Jesus. He follows through with every promise. If you’ve always wanted to hear someone say, “I love you so much that I die for you,” let me tell you that someone DOES love you that much & they’ve already died for you. In fact, His death is the reason you have life & the potential for a relationship in the first place.

With Jesus, there is no such thing as flirting.

In other words, His love is never in question. You can have full assurance that His love is ever-present and unconditional. He does not cast His love out on a hook, begging us to take the bait. He does not toy around with our heart. Rather, his love is full force, full time. It’s overwhelming & never ending. My prayer since 8th grade is that the Lord would not allow me to experience the love of any man until I have experienced the fullness, ferocity, & fulfillment of God’s love. So my purpose in writing to you today is to share what I have learned on this six year journey toward the heart of Jesus Christ, the Lover of my soul.

His love is present, loyal, absolute, freeing, boundless, constant, unbiased, liberating, genuine, patient, unparalleled, impartial, restless, overwhelming, fierce, fulfilling, comforting, perfect, & trustworthy. Therefore, Jesus himself is ALL of this because He IS the embodiment of love.

1 John 4:8-9 “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

The reality of God’s love shapes our expectations of love from this world.

It’s easy to watch movies and admire seamless relationships. They always have the right words to say and every disagreement ends in immediate forgiveness. How can we have a relationship like that? We can’t! Actors and actresses have memorized their lines for weeks and rehearsed the scene numerous times. Everything was planned and practiced. In our life, there are obstacles to overcome in EVERY relationship— with a parent, sibling, friend, coach, teacher, etc… There’s no script and no rehearsals.

Once we acknowledge that the love we give & receive is imperfect, three things happen:

1— We become more aware of just how perfect GOD’S love is

2— We can take the pressure off of ourselves to extend perfect love

3— We can offer grace to those who can’t love us as Christ does

God has you in THIS season of life for a reason.

It can be easy to covet someone else’s season of life, but God has you right where He wants you. It’s true! He doesn’t make mistakes & if He had something better than this, you would be living it. He is ALWAYS faithful to us & our relationships are no exception.

TO THE SINGLE::

Maybe you feel unwanted, unloved, & discouraged. That is from the devil!! Lift up your eyes!! Don’t look to this world to satisfy you because your Heavenly Father can satisfy 10,000x more right now. Wait patiently on the Lord. Wait for the right person to pursue you the way Christ is pursuing you. Do not view your situation with pity but open your eyes to the uniqueness of singleness as a gift! Spend all your time “dating JESUS” (“secure your undivided attention to the Lord”—1 Corinthians 7:35). He loves you far more than any human EVER could & unconditionally. Ask Him to show you satisfaction without a plus one. In the waiting, He is preparing you for what’s to come. The Lord tells us to give thanks in every situation, so do not allow the devil to tempt and distract you from a spirit of thankfulness. Resist the devil & he will flee from you (James 4:7). Don’t be afraid to make your requests known to God! He sees you and cares about your emotions (Phil 4:6-7).

TO THOSE WHO ARE DATING::

2 words:: Grow Together. if you’re not growing in your faith TOGETHER while dating, don’t expect your marriage to grow. I love what John Piper says— "If you’re boyfriend//girlfriend isn’t on the front lines, get them outta the front of your mind!” Keep Christ in the center of your relationship. Marriage is not meant for selfish pleasure but for Christ to be exalted in unity! So pray this phrase over your relationship:: His glory be greater than my satisfaction. Pray for your girlfriend//boyfriend to always love Christ 10,000x more than they love you because ONLY Christ is worthy of 1st place in our life.

Since the goal of dating is marriage, let’s look at what the Bible says about that. One of my favorite books is “The Second Coming” by John MacArthur & I’ll be quoting//summarizing him below. He talks a lot about how marriage is the closest we will get to understand the future union between Christ and His Bride (the Church). The Second Coming is described as a huge wedding celebration where the Bridegroom will claim his bride. MacArthur says, “The biblical symbolism is based on the pattern that was in vogue for Oriental Weddings during new Testament times…Every marriage had three vital elements, each symbolized in the relationship of Christ with His church.” So let’s look at those three points.

1— THE BRIDAL PRICE

Marriages in bible times were arranged by parents for their children, who usually had not even met. They would sign a binding contract & to seal that contract, the husband-to-be or his father would have to pay a dowry (money for the bride’s financial security) and they would also provide extravagant gifts for the bride.

Likewise, the union of Christ & His church was arranged by the Father before we met. Christ has paid the dowry in the form of his own blood. “His blood guarantees our security. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ” (Ephesians 5:25-27, Acts 20:28)

2— THE BETROTHAL

“The betrothal in an ancient marriage was officially marked by a ceremony in which the bride and bridegroom eat in the presence of witnesses and gave gifts to each other.” This ceremony happened usually over a year in advance. Within the following year, the groom would go prepare a place for his bride.

In the same way, Christ has given us gifts and is preparing a place for us in His father’s house. (Ephesians 4:8, John 14:2)

3— THE MARRIAGE FEAST

“The final phase of a marriage occurred when the bridegroom and his friends would go to the bride’s house for a marriage ceremony and great feast.”

Similarly, Christ is coming back for us! (Revelation 19:6-16)

MacArthur concludes saying, “The institution of marriage itself is a beautiful metaphor that pictures Christ’s love for His church. And if He were not going to return to claim her, it would spoil the whole point.” Doesn’t that give you such hope! Sometimes it takes understanding traditional ways, but we have PROOF that Christ IS COMING AGAIN. He is coming to claim His Bride, the church, us! Until then, let us engage in relationships that model His devotion and love towards us and strive to live purely so we can present ourselves as pure before Christ when he comes again.

Whatever stage you’re in, surrender the pen of your love story.

I heard a sermon on this recently, and the pastor had a really interesting perspective. He explained that “if you’ve given the Lord permission to be the Author of your life, stop trying to write the romance chapter." He is fully capable. WHEREVER you are in the relationship— single, dating, engaged, OR married— ask God to show you that He has the best plan for your life, and that plan INCLUDES your love story. Once you believe that, all strivings cease. You can stop searching for the one. You can stop trying to be the person you think they want you to be.

PRAYER

Lord, let our souls be satisfied in YOU. We want to say with confidence “I KNOW perfect love & I am not lacking.” We acknowledge that no human could give us the love you offer. Your love is satisfying our pursuit for affirmation because we understand that Yours is the greatest. Lord, we are done with striving to receive worldly love. That can only last a lifetime but yours extends into eternity. It extends beyond the boundaries of our mind. You call us out among a crowd, labeling me as Your own, smiling with great pride. Your love casts out all fear. There are no restrictions, none worthy. Understanding the reality & extent of such love is liberating.

Let these verses be your confirmation:: You can stop searching for a greater love.

This season has purpose!

1 Corinthians 7:17;23-24 “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him… You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.”

He is faithful!

Psalm 145:13b-14 “The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward you. The Lord upholds you and will lift you up as you bow down.”

He chose us FIRST!

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

We’re always on His mind!

Psalm 139:17-18 “How precious are His thoughts towards you. How vast is the sum of them! Were you to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.”

He knows our needs before we speak them!

Isaiah 65:24 “Before you call, I will answer; while you are still speaking, I will hear.”

We have value!

Isaiah 49:16 “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands”

**** If you wanna worship & THANK Him for His love>> Pieces, Bethel Music