ABIDING IN MATURE LOVE

Ps Dr Philip Lyn writing for WeeklyBlog , 23/09/08

Heard this love story of two elderly people? He was a widower and she a widow. One evening at a community supper in the senior citizens centre, they sat at the same table, across from each other. As the meal went on, he finally gathered up courage to ask her, 'Will you marry me?' After a minute of 'careful consideration,' she answered, 'Yes, I will.' When the evening was over, they exchanged phone numbers, promised to be in touch and left for their respective homes.

Next morning, he was troubled. Did she say 'yes' or 'no'? He couldn't remember! With trepidation, he phoned her, and after a few pleasantries about the previous evening, asked: 'When I asked you to marry me, did you say 'Yes' or ‘No’? ‘I said “Yes!”’, she replied. 'And luckily you called, because I knew I had said yes to someone but I couldn’t remember who it was!” Haha. Point of joke? Well, growing old and falling in love doesn’t make it any more mature. So what does?

Maturing in love is ultimately a mark of spiritual maturity. It’s not measured by status (are you a leader?) or stature (are you respected?) but of substance (how much of Christ is in you, how much does he have of you, how great is He in you?). It is about the Divine process initiated by the great Cosmic Lover Himself and revealed to us through the Cross. The present sermon series on 1 John: “Loving God and Loving One Another”, today, takes us into the area of maturing in love.

John speaks of three levels of Christian living: as little children, as young men and as fathers (1 Jn 2: 12-14). Each level is characterized by an increasing firsthand experience of who God our Father is and whether we overcome the wicked one in his attempts to sabotage our journeys. It is premised on truth and on the singular pursuit of God in a world that hawks lust and pride as attractive alternatives (v 15-17). What will keep us from falling and staying us in God’s love? Ultimately it is the anointing within that we need to cultivate (v 27). His presence- that will keep us!

ABIDING IN MATURE LOVE

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ABIDING IN MATURE LOVE Recent Articles: GOODBYE TO 2008 THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS DEBT: “HUTANG EMAS BOLEH DIBAYAR?� YOUR GREATEST INVESTMENT MONEY: SCARY INVESTING OBAMA: ONE MOMENT IN TIME MONEY: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO GOD MONEY: TITHING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES AFTERSHOCKS SUDDEN BUT NOT UNEXPECTED Other Skyline Editorials: Pastor Philip Lyn WeeklyBlog Campus Ablaze News Kidszone News Media News Youth News Ps Dr Philip Lyn writing for WeeklyBlog , 23/09/08 Heard this love story of two elderly people? He was a widower and she a widow. One evening at a community supper in the senior citizens centre, they sat at the same table, across from each other. As the meal went on, he finally gathered up courage to ask her, 'Will you marry me?' After a minute of 'careful consideration,' she answered, 'Yes, I will.' When the evening was over, they exchanged phone numbers, promised to be in touch and left for their respective homes. Next morning, he was troubled. Did she say 'yes' or 'no'? He couldn't remember! With trepidation, he phoned her, and after a few pleasantries about the previous evening, asked: 'When I asked you to marry me, did you say 'Yes' or ‘No’? ‘I said “Yes!”’, she replied. 'And luckily you called, because I knew I had said yes to someone but I couldn’t remember who it was!” Haha. Point of joke? Well, growing old and falling in love doesn’t make it any more mature. So what does? Maturing in love is ultimately a mark of spiritual maturity. It’s not measured by status (are you a leader?) or stature (are you respected?) but of substance (how much of Christ is in you, how much does he have of you, how great is He in you?). It is about the Divine process initiated by the great Cosmic Lover Himself and revealed to us through the Cross. The present sermon series on 1 John: “Loving God and Loving One Another”, today, takes us into the area of maturing in love. John speaks of three levels of Christian living: as little children, as young men and as fathers (1 Jn 2: 12-14). Each level is characterized by an increasing firsthand experience of who God our Father is and whether we overcome the wicked one in his attempts to sabotage our journeys. It is premised on truth and on the singular pursuit of God in a world that hawks lust and pride as attractive alternatives (v 15-17). What will keep us from falling and staying us in God’s love? Ultimately it is the anointing within that we need to cultivate (v 27). His presence- that will keep us!
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