LESSON 34
THE MOST WONDERFUL LOVE
The greatest of all things is love
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1. Goal
We will develop unconditional love in our lives by imitating our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Introduction
We need to develop the love which we have received from God so that it will continually flow from us. When the love of God fills our hearts, we are then able to love our brothers and sisters. If we fail to understand God’s love and receive it into our hearts, we will fail to love others. The Word of God emphasizes that true love comes from God. When we receive it from Him, we are able to share it with others.
Mark 12:29-30 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
God’s love is unconditional. The greatest of all things is love (1Corinthians 13:13).
3. Question
The love of God is the greatest of all things even though...?
4. Content
Let us study God’s great love from Isaiah 53 and 54.
A. Isaiah 54:8-9 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer. 9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
We should love everyone even though they may have sinned against us. God loves us even though we are sinners and we do not deserve to receive His love. As Christians, we love others even though they may have wronged us, or they are selfish or they may have hurt our feelings. God’s love must always shine forth from our lives.
B. Isaiah 53:3, 10 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 10Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
We love others even though they do not love us. God loves us even though we reject Him or despise Him. He loves us without seeking for His own benefit. He cares for us even though we do not give anything to Him in return.
C. Isaiah 53:4, 7, 12 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 12Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
God loves mankind even though He is often grieved and afflicted by sinners. We should love others even though we are oppressed or rejected by them.
D. Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
God’s love for man is unfailing even though man’s love toward Him may change. The love of man may change according to surrounding circumstances, yet God’s love towards us never changes. Even though things or situations may change the Lord loves us all equally at all times.
5. Discussion Questions
A. Having studied this lesson, in which point do you still fail? Please pray and ask the Lord to open up your heart and pour His love into it.
B. Do you know of anyone who shows God’s love to you in spite of your shortcomings? Share this with each other.
C. Please share with one another what you learn from the last Sunday’s sermon and from last week’s care lesson.
6. Memory Verse
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.