Craig Smith • Love Part 2 • May 5, 2024
Love must be sincere. (Rom. 12:9a)
My love for those
me…
-cultural and
– “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Rom. 12:14-15)
and
* – “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” (Rom. 12:16)*
My love for those
me…
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them…But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:32, 35-36)
• Do not return the
– “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” (Rom. 12:17)*
The
Rule – “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
The
Rule – “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
• Make
the priority – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Rom. 12:18)
• Let
be
– “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay.’” (Rom. 12:19)
• Overpower
with
– “On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:20-21)
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7b-8)
