The Benefits Of Love Series

A young bride to be was very nervous on the day before her wedding, so she went to speak with her pastor. “I'm afraid I might not make it through the ceremony properly,” she confessed.

The pastor assured her that everything would be fine: “When you enter the church tomorrow and the processional begins, you will be walking down the same aisle you've walked many times before. Concentrate on that aisle. When you get halfway down the aisle, you'll see the altar, where you and your family have worshiped for many years. Concentrate on that altar. Then, when you're almost to the altar, you will see your groom, the one you love. Concentrate on him.”

The bride was relieved and left to prepare for her big moment. The next day, she walked down the aisle with her chin up and eyes bright – a beautiful, confident bride. But those along the center were a bit surprised to hear her muttering over and over: “Aisle, altar, him. Aisle, altar, him.” (J. R. Love, Rushton, Louisiana; www.PreachingToday.com)

To be sure, love can change the one you love; but more than that, love changes you! You see, when you choose to love instead of hate, YOU benefit the most! YOU receive the greatest blessing. YOU gain more than you ever give away. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to 1 John 3, 1 John 3, where we discover the benefits of love in a hostile world.

1 John 3:18-19 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him... (ESV)

Literally, this is how we convince or persuade our heart in His presence.

1 John 3:20 ...for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (ESV)

When you choose to love “in deed and in truth,” God assures your heart even when your heart condemns you. Too often, people listen to their hearts more than they listen to God. But when you choose to live in His love, you hear God saying, “Well done! You are my dearly loved child” (1 John 3:1). So choose to love when people hate you, and...

RECEIVE GOD’S ASSURANCE TO YOUR HEART.

Hear God say to your spirit, “I’m proud of you.” And find the confidence to keep on serving Him even when you think you’ve blown it, even when your own heart condemns you.

That’s what happened to Peter. He had really blown it when he denied knowing Jesus three times as Jesus was on trial before the Jewish High Court. He’s standing outside, awaiting the results of the trial, when a servant girl asks him, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”

And Peter says, “I am not.”

Later, some others waiting outside ask him again, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” And Peter denies it again.

Then, a servant who was with those who had arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane says, “Did I not see you with him in the garden?”

This time Peter curses and swears with his third denial of ever knowing Jesus. A rooster crows. Jesus appears in the doorway, looking right at Peter, and Peter’s heart condemns him as he runs away in shame.

Later, after Jesus’ resurrection, He meets Peter and some of his friends by the Sea of Galilee. They’re enjoying some breakfast together when Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” In fact, Jesus asks Peter the same question three times, “Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?

Each time, Peter responds, “Yes, I do love you.”

But when Jesus questions his love a third time, Peter appeals not to his own behavior, which condemns him. Peter appeals to Jesus’ knowledge of all things. Peter says to Jesus, “You know everything; you know that I love you.”

Peter’s love for Jesus was not evident to others, because Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. However, Jesus knew his heart; and based on that knowledge, Jesus commissioned Peter to be a leader among His followers. When Peter’s own heart condemned him, Jesus assured him that he was still a valuable member of the team.

Now, that’s what happens when you choose to love in a world full of hate. God assures your heart that you still belong to Him, and He still wants to use you to change people’s lives.

You see, the way you treat people reveals what you truly believe about God. If you treat people like royalty, you believe in a gracious and loving Heavenly Father. If you treat people like dirt, you believe in a ruthless Ruler of the Universe.