4:45 – Love Is What Keeps Us Together

#faithbites #faithjourney Keeps

Setting

Today is Valentine’s Day which for many is a day of love. Today also happens to be my mother’s wedding day. Topping it off, we are finishing a series of love in our church. Love is on my mind today. From the Beatles, “Love is All You Need” to Captain and Tennile’s, “Love Will Keep Us Together“

Why do what we do? We do it for love. Those that we love, we want to shower with love. Think about almost any movie and there is a love story there. It can be romantic love, familiar love, or friendship love, but love is there and it keeps the hero’s trying to do something to get back to or to protect those they love.

When we say we are children of God, it is his love that keeps us together. We come from so many different backgrounds, languages, and experiences but through God’s love, we are one family.

Today’s question: What is love? What about love drives you to keep you together with those you love?

Scripture

• Colossians 3:14 – And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
• 1 John 4:7 – ⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. ⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Reflection

Love keeps us together. From weddings, congrats Mom, to our children, to our spouses, friends, family, and everyone we meet, love is the bottom line. In our scriptures verses, we see that love binds us in perfect unity. Love is from God and if we love, we love God. Above all, we see that love endure. It never gives up, never loses faith, and is always hopeful.

Love isn’t only for the good times when it’s easy to love. We need to take this love through ALL TIMES. When we are tired, down, upset, when people are against us or believe something other than us. As Pastor McBurney said, “We love others because we are loved by Jesus not to be loved by others.”

As we close today, remember that love keeps us together. It is what keeps us together. That Jesus died on the cross because of his love for us. May you enjoy this day of love and know that Jesus loves you forever. May your love to continue to grow in Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for your love. Thank you for showing us that love is truly what keeps us together. We pray that you help us love when it is easy. We also pray that when it’s hard to love others that you help us love them. Lord, we know you love us always. We pray that we feel your love and it helps us to stay together and love unconditionally. We pray all these things in your name, Amen.