Week 2 ~ A Love that is Selfless
Truth Verses
Romans 5:5 Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list.” But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’
Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is love...
Truth Story
I am a massive admirer of a heroic Welshman called Harold Geoffrey Lowe. Many may not
know his name, but he was the man who sacrificially risked his life to rescue a few of the
lives of those perishing in the icy sea, while the doomed Titanic was still sinking.
While the other lifeboats headed towards the rescue ship the Carpathia, Lowe's Lifeboat 14 was the only lifeboat to go back. His action was that of a love that was both selfless and sacrificial.
Although all the other lifeboats feared the probability of being sucked under as the Titanic sank, Lowe risked life and limb to rescue the perishing. The New York Senate hearings vindicate this one mans heroic decision, as it was proven that there was in fact no undertow from the Titanic as it sank. Harold Geoffrey Lowe Fifth Officer RMS Titanic, I posthumously salute you as one of my all-time heroes.
Truth Unpacked
As we launch out in our quest to understand the fruit of the Spirit, the starting trait is that of love. Love is the budding point from which all the other fruits come (1 John 4:16).
The great love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, is one that is often read at weddings. Here the writer, the Apostle Paul, endeavours to encapsulate a definition of this God-love. It helps many happy couples try to express something of the depth of their love in terms of giving with no selfish hooks - seeking not their own, always keeping the other in mind before thinking of themselves.
Jesus expressed this selfless love in laying down his life for mankind through his sacrificial death (Ephesians 5:25). John summarises this when he states, greater love has no man than a man lay down his life for a friend (John 15:13). Agape love, true love is selfless.
Quote An excerpt from 1 Corinthians 13 (MSG) states:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Praying the Word
Help us Lord to not only seek our own desires and passions but to seek the things that you are passionate about (Galatians 1:10; Colossians 1:10). Help us express love through a sacrificial act for someone else today (1 John 3:16). Make this world a better place because of my love and to "think a little more of others and a little less of me." In agreeing that true love flows from you Lord, Spirit of Jesus grant me more of your love in my heart today to replace my selfishness with your selflessness. Amen (Romans 5:5).
Lectio Divina [Prayer reading]
Pray, read and reflect.
• Have those that are willing pray, asking that the Holy Spirit would help them hear His voice (John 10:27).
• Read the scriptures again.
• Then go around the room [allowing for ‘neighbour nudging’ to let people opt out should they not want to share]. Have everyone willing then reflect, acknowledging one thing they sense the Holy Spirit is saying to them as they read.
Pray, reinforce and contemplate.
• Close the connect group time by praying that the Spirit would help empower everyone to demonstrate this Jesus-like characteristic of selfless love.
• Reinforce this by participating in symbolic gesture or creative activity that does something to express our desire to receive this change (e.g. Get a colouring pencil and then get your bible. Highlight the verse(s) that mentioned this insight).
• Ask everyone to contemplate; to consider how they can demonstrate this characteristic more in their everyday lives.
