Complete the Cycle (Series: Love Wins)



By Pastor Darryl Woodson

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. _1 Corinthians 13:13

And above all things have fervent love for one another… _1 Peter 4:8

There is nothing more supreme, nothing higher than love. Of all things love is the greatest.
When we go through hard times in our lives that seem to squeeze us even to our very heart, let love be what is brought out. Under pressure, let us move out in love. In difficult situations, keeping my peace and joy is what love does. It is my assurance of God´s love that keeps the peace and joy in my heart.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. _1 John 4:10-11
And this is the cycle; that God loves me, and I love others, thus completing the cycle. The reason we are on earth is to be loved and to love. 1 John 3:16
Like water through a rock, love always finds a way through any and every situation, any problem or circumstance.

For an illustration of the Father´s love, we can look at two scenarios;

1. The Prodigal son, Luke 15:21-24
Sonship is based on birth and not on worth. The son thought that he was only worthy of his father´s approval as a son because of what he did (worth).

…that you may know the love of Christ…now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think… _Ephesians 3:17-20

2. Peter, John 21:1-19
If we try to do things our own way, like Peter returning to his old fishing job, we catch nothing, but if we do all by the Word of God and command, we profit.
Jesus Christ questions Simon Peter in verses 15 to 19 whether he loved Him, and with each response from Peter, Christ said to him;
1. Feed My lambs,
2. Tend My sheep,
3. Feed My sheep,
4. Follow Me,

Especially in the times when it doesn’t make sense, we complete the cycle. We are called to have fervent love one for another, in the hard times is when we must walk in the love we are called to.