Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-082 (Sermon notes)

LOVE DEFIES DEFINITION

All you need is love. 1 John 3: 16-24

“Love makes the world go round”, “Love is just around the corner”, and now the “I love you” computer virus. We human beings are drawn toward love. Think of all the love songs you can remember. Look at the popularity of romance novels like Mills and Boon.

I recall some words of a very early Nat King Cole hit “Nature Boy”. It said “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is to love, and be loved in return.”

The power of love is not to be underestimated.

These days, the word LOVE has so many meanings that it is often cheapened.

C.S.Lewis wrote a book on love called “The Four Loves”, being, Affection, Friendship, Eros, and Charity.

He shows how each merges into another, how one can even become another, without losing sight of the necessary and real differences between them.

In a sense, real, genuine love defies definition.

[Today] we celebrate Mother’s Day, and for most of us, our mothers symbolize love.

True, there are exceptions, but those of us who experienced growing up under the loving care of our mothers, may remember the times when we tried their patience, ignored their advice, and finished up making a mess of something. Did they stop loving us? Even though we may have hurt them, or saddened them, did they not forgive us, help us get up and going again. We may even remember the sacrifices they made for us.

We men may love, but I do not believe we can love with the intensity of a mother.

The Bible tells us that God’s love for us is greater than that of any earthly mother.

Love is the main theme of the first letter of John – in fact the word is used four times in our passage this morning. John is drawing our attention to the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ; and to his commandment to his followers to love one another as he has loved them. John calls for love to be more than mere words, it needs to be accompanied by actions. We cannot say we love somebody, and then ignore them if they are in need.

We are not to emulate to facetious advice given by Michael Flanders, “Always be sincere, whether you mean it our not.”

Love must be genuine. Often love hurts, is not always easy, and can be tried to its limits.

When does a mother stop loving her child? How long is it before a reconciliation takes place? Mothers are often disappointed, saddened, and concerned, for and by their children. But, do they give up on love?

I have heard it said of some persons, “that only a mother could love them.” How true that is, because there is something intrinsic in a mother’s love that sees beneath the skin.

As children, to whom did we turn when we felt that the whole world was against us? Sometimes all it took to set us right was a cuddle from a loving mum.

God’s love for us exceeds that of the world’s greatest mother, but I believe that we experience a foretaste however flawed, in a mother’s love. Speaking from the experience of work started among the HIV positive orphan babies abandoned in soulless state orphanages in Romania, the listless, hopeless, children responded to the tender loving care of dedicated staff, eyes brightened, laughter returned, and with it hope.

Next to Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to the human race is Love: And Mother’s particularly reflect that love. Thanks be to GOD.

– Andy Campbell <>