The transcript of the service is below
I
John 4:7-12
7 Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Whoever
does not love does not know God, because God
is love.9 This
is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only
Son into the world that we might live through Him.10 This
is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent
His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.11 Dear
friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another.12 No
one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in
us and His love is made complete in us.
I John 4:7-12 HAVE YOU HEARD, “I LOVE YOU” SPRINGFORD BAPTIST CHURCH
MOTHER’S DAY: May 9, 2021.
A very, very tired mother received a lovely gift. When she first opened it, she could hardly believe her eyes-a ticket for her dream vacation-a Carribean cruise. She was thrilled and when the day came for her departure, she was up bright and early and all packed to go. Needless to say, she had a wonderful time. The sun, the air, the people she met-so much to see and do. Her dream vacation passed by quickly. There was one draw back. Each time she sat in her cabin to munch away on her peanut butter and crackers, she could smell the delicious aromas coming from the dining area. She knew that this cruise had been a lovely gift. She also knew that there was no way she could afford to eat with the other passengers. In her careful planning, she had stuffed her suitcase full of enough crackers and peanut butter to last throughout her voyage. However, it was all part of her plan on the last night to splurge and go to the dining room for her evening meal. When she arrived, she was greeted by the hostess who asked her name before seating her. Imagine the surprise of this mother on her dream vacation, when the hostess responded, “We’ve had a place set for you and wondered why you never came. Your meals are all included as part of the trip.” Here she had been eating peanut butter and crackers all this time, when there was so much more just waiting for her.
Before we start to mutter, “what a silly woman”, realize this. The experience of this woman is not unlike the way in which we may miss out on the rich feast of God’s love because we don’t recognize all that He makes available to us.
I John 4:7 draws to our attention the source of love. “Dear friends let us love one another, for love comes from God.”
*In our families and homes, we can know that the love we express toward each other comes from God. Our God is the Source of all love.
Three simple, yet infinitely powerful words are, “I Love You.”
These three words are spoken over and over by parents cuddling their babies, by mothers soothing their toddlers, by moms and dads encouraging their growing children.
Almost certainly, the first person to utter those significant words to you, a wiggling newborn is a parent-very likely your mother.
When we entered this world, it was not a nurse or a doctor that gazed into our faces and said with inexpressible emotion, “I Love You.”
A mother cannot help but say , “I love you” to her child. That first spontaneous declaration of love is followed by many repetitions of those same three words.
This is one of the great delights that God has gifted us with-the ability to love and to be loved.
How empty those words would be if they remained only words.
I John 4:9 “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
**God is the Source of love and He has clearly shown us that love must be lived and demonstrated.
Again, God gives us the strength and ability to do that.
Parenthood is not a breeze. There are times that are really frustrating.
What is it about getting all set to go somewhere that seems to motivate a child to run outdoors and play in the mud?
What is it about explaining that something is dangerous that seems to make it even more attractive?
What
is it that makes “No” such a popular word-not just with 2
year olds?
What is it that has adult children making decisions
that can be seen to be going in a very difficult direction, but they
make them anyway?
If our mothers only loved us when we were completely co-operative, reasonable, and sweet -Where would any of us be?
Parenthood opens up a door of opportunity with some very revealing words inscribed upon it-“Opportunity To Learn Lessons of Unconditional Love.”
When we walk through that door expecting to have so much to teach our children or grandchildren or nieces or nephews, we begin to discover how much we have to learn. We continue to have a great deal to learn about the power of love. Living “I love you” is surely impossible without the consistent support of our loving God, a God who loved our world so much that He was willing to give us His only Son as a perfect demonstration of His love.
It is not unusual for me to hear, “Well I’m just glad I’m not raising my children in this day and age.”
The reality is that some people are choosing not to have children because of the many tough challenges that do face parents today.
However, the circumstances of society may change, God does not change! God is faithful!
God will help us to be the parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles we need to be.
God will give us the grace to say “I love you” to our children and to make those words real by our actions of love!
vs.12 “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.”
*** When we know God as the Source of love and live that love, we experience and allow others to experience God’s Presence!!
Grasping the truth of this is so significant!!
Within our families and beyond, it is essential that we say “I love you” and live “I love you” for our children and others to know that God is real.
This is one of the high privileges and responsibilities of parenthood-passing on our faith.
Often parents consider it important to make financial provision for the future of their children. Parents try to make wise decisions about the education of their children. We consider it our responsibility as parents to socialize our children, but if all these important ingredients are there and we have not brought the reality of God’s Presence into our homes by living out God’s love with each other, we need to re-evaluate!!
Think of it this way: How important is your faith in God to you?
Is it a treasure that you are eager to have your children or grandchildren or other children in your life own for themselves?
If genuine love can allow us to encounter our Living God among us, then by all means we will want to embrace God’s love as our way of life.
Children learn what they live and so do teenagers and adults.
On this Mother’s Day we thank God for mothers who said “I love you” and lived “I love you”. By this living love, they allowed us to know that God is real.
We pray that as parents, as families, as a church family, we will know God as the Source of love; that we will be compelled to live that love daily; and that we will have cause to celebrate the delight of God’s Presence in our midst as His love is made complete in us!!
None of us want to miss out on the rich feast of God’s love available for us to receive and to share. Listen for God and hear His invitation to come to His banquet table that He has lovingly prepared for us to enjoy. God says to us over and over, “I LOVE YOU”!