All We Need Is Love
Pastor Llewellyn Roberts
28 April 2024
When we think about love, we often miss the subtle ways it influences our daily experiences. Consider the impact of a loved one’s voice, where a simple “hello” can express a whole range of emotions. I vividly recall how my mother’s voice would reveal her mood. Her tone alone let me know if I was in for a reprimand or if peace awaited me. This insight has led me to think about what we experience when we are connected and truly know love. It’s not just present in large, dramatic gestures but in these quiet, everyday interactions. We all need the love of God and to be in love with God because this will color our perceptions and shape our relationships. When we understand that God is not just a creator but a loving Father, we see every aspect of our lives through a lens of love.
The Heart of Our Experience
Love is not just an emotion but the very essence of God. We need to experience His love. Our lives are not about what we do or how hard we work; instead, our lives are about accepting and living in the love that Christ offers. Beloved, His Love lifts you! “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” 1 John 4:7-8. To truly understand this, we must immerse ourselves not just in the acts of love but in being recipients and givers of God’s unconditional love, thereby transforming our relationships and interactions with others.
Being with Love, Not Just Working for Love
The message here is clear: being active in our faith doesn’t mean just doing things for God. It’s about being with Him by spending time in His presence. This distinction is crucial; it moves us from a performance-based faith to a relationship-centered one, where our actions stem from love rather than obligation. “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” 1 John 4:16. Spending time with God isn’t about fulfilling religious duties; it’s about nurturing a personal relationship where we come to know and reflect His love in all that we do.
Understanding Love Through the Word
As we understand His Word we encounter His love and are changed by it. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This not only describes the attributes of love, which are reflective of God Himself but also guides us on how to LIVE love in our daily lives. Each day offers new opportunities to live out these principles, showing patience and kindness, and putting aside envy and pride, thereby embodying the very nature of God in our daily interactions.
Is God Angry?
Often, people believe that God is quick to anger, but this is not true! That is why reading His Word to spend time with God will reveal Him as a loving and patient Father. His discipline is rooted in love, not wrath. No, God is not angry with you or looking to smite you. Instead, He loves you and wants to save you! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. This truth removes fear from our relationship with God and brings peace and acceptance. When we embrace this profound truth, it reshapes how we view every trial and every blessing, recognizing them as part of a loving relationship with our Creator.
Living Out Love
The core of this message is not just understanding that God is love but living IN this truth. It’s about letting this love guide our every action and interaction. We need to reflect this love outwardly, changing not just how we see ourselves but also how we interact with the world around us. As we live out this love, we become beacons of light and hope to those around us, demonstrating the power and presence of God in the world.
Love as Our Foundation
Love isn’t just a part of our lives; it is our life’s foundation because God is love! Live fully in the embrace of God’s love, and allow His love to shape our actions and our interactions. Let us hold onto the truth that in every aspect of life, “Love is all you need.” By living in this truth, we allow God’s love to lift us, to transform our lives, and to bring light into our darkest moments. Let us remember, in every action and every interaction, to let love lead the way. In doing so, we not only fulfill our deepest purpose but also connect with others in the most meaningful ways possible, creating a community rooted in love and grace.