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The Story of Love - Andrew
Sermon Summary
Andrew emphasised the importance of being truly present with God and others as a reflection of God's love, encouraging us to practice giving time, attention, and listening; to grow in love and become more like Jesus.
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Love is not just a feeling or a fleeting emotion—it is a commitment to be present with others for their good. This presence is at the very heart of God’s character. God is not distant or detached; He is Emmanuel, God with us. The story of love, as revealed in 1 John 4, shows that God’s love is demonstrated most powerfully in His willingness to draw near, to send His Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Our ability to love others is rooted in the reality that God first loved us, and His love is made complete as we extend that same presence to others.
Our culture often celebrates the idea of love but struggles with its cost. True love requires more than proximity; it demands intentional presence—giving our time, attention, and listening ear. The stories of Martha and Mary remind us that even in our busyness and distraction, Jesus is present in the room, loving us as we are. God’s love is not reserved for those who always get it right; He loves the “Marthas” among us, those who are anxious, distracted, or trying to fix everything. In the same way, we are called to be present with others, not just physically, but with our full attention and open hearts.
Being present is costly. It means setting aside distractions, resisting the urge to multitask, and truly listening. In a world where technology allows us to be virtually everywhere, we often find ourselves only proximate, not truly present. The challenge is to move beyond surface-level interactions and to practice the kind of attentive presence that makes others feel heard and valued. As David Augsburger said, “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” This is true in our relationships with God as well as with others.
God’s presence with us is never patchy or inconsistent. He indwells us by His Spirit and is always available. The question is, how present are we with Him? How present are we with those we love, and with those we are learning to love? The invitation is to make deliberate choices to be truly present—with God and with others—so that His love may overflow through us. Let us ask for God’s help to practice giving time, attention, and listening; growing to be more like Jesus, who is the perfect example of love made present.
Key Takeaways
1. Love is Measured by Presence, Not Proximity
True love is not simply being near someone, but being truly present—offering our undivided attention and care. God’s love is demonstrated in His willingness to be with us, not just for us. Our growth in Christlikeness is measured by our increasing ability to be present with others for their good, just as God is present with us.
2. God’s Love Embraces the Distracted and Anxious
The stories of Martha and Mary reveal that God’s love is not reserved for the serene or the spiritually focused. Even in our moments of distraction, anxiety, or busyness, Jesus is present and loving. God delights in being with us, even when we are struggling to be with Him, reminding us that His love is steadfast and not dependent on our performance.
3. Attentive Listening is a Profound Act of Love
Listening deeply to another person is one of the clearest ways to communicate love. As Augsburger notes, being heard and being loved are nearly indistinguishable for most people. Practising attentive listening—setting aside our own agendas and distractions—creates space for others to feel valued and cared for, mirroring the way God listens to us.
4. The Cost of Presence is the Cost of Love
Our culture enjoys the idea of love but often resists its demands, especially the sacrifice of time and attention. True presence requires us to pay the cost of love by giving ourselves fully, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. This sacrificial presence is what transforms relationships and allows God’s love to be made complete in us.
5. Technology Can Hinder True Presence
While technology offers unprecedented opportunities for connection, it can also undermine genuine presence by fostering distraction and superficiality. The challenge is to use these tools wisely, ensuring that we are not just physically or virtually proximate, but truly present—attentive, engaged, and loving in our interactions with God and others.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: God’s Love Is the Source of Our Love
Scripture:
1 John 4:7-12 NIV
'Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1JN.4.7-12
Devotional:
God’s love is not just a feeling but a commitment, demonstrated by sending His Son so that we might live through Him: this love is the foundation and measure of our ability to love others. When we recognise that God loved us first, even before we could respond, it transforms our understanding of love from something we strive to earn into something we receive and then share. As we grow in Christlikeness, the true test is not in knowledge or activity, but in how we love—because love is the metric of spiritual maturity. God’s love is not easily offended, is loyal and faithful, and calls us to love one another in the same way, making His love complete in us.
Reflection:
Who in your life needs to experience God’s love through you today, and what is one specific way you can show them that love, even if it costs you something?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for sacrificing Your Son for me. Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me. Thank You God for demonstrating Your love for me in Your actions. Please show me who needs to know Your love and how I can share it with them today. Amen.
Day 2: God’s Presence Is Constant and Unfailing
Scripture:
Psalms 139:7-10 NIV
'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.139.7-10
Devotional:
Unlike human presence, which is limited and sometimes inconsistent, God’s presence is always with us—He is never absent, never distracted, and never patchy in His love or attention. No matter where we go or what we face, God’s Spirit is with us, guiding and holding us fast, offering comfort and security that cannot be shaken. This truth invites us to rest in the assurance that we are never alone, and that God’s love is not dependent on our circumstances or feelings. His omnipresence is a source of deep comfort, especially in times of anxiety, loneliness, or fear, reminding us that we are always seen and known.
Reflection:
When have you recently felt alone or anxious, and how can you intentionally remind yourself of God’s constant presence with you in those moments?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank You that You are always with me. That no matter where I go or what I do, You guide and hold me. Lord help me to remember that in my darkest moments and to seek refuge in You when things get hard. Amen
Day 3: Attentive Presence with God
Scripture:
Psalms 16:5-8 NIV
' Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.16.5-8
Devotional:
Being present with God is more than just being physically in a place of worship or prayer; it is about giving Him our undivided attention, keeping our eyes on Him, and allowing His counsel to guide us even in the quiet moments of our lives. The Scriptures encourage us to cultivate a heart that is attentive to God, recognising that our security and delight are found in Him alone. When we practice being present with God, we become less shaken by life’s uncertainties and more anchored in His faithful love. This kind of presence requires intentionality, resisting distractions, and making space for God to speak and move in our hearts.
Reflection:
What is one practical step you can take today to minimise distractions and be more fully present with God, allowing Him to counsel and steady your heart?
Prayer:
Lord God, I come before You now and surrender this time to You. Lord, help me to find more time to spend with You. Please open my eyes to time I'm spending that is distracted by wasteful, even harmful, things so that I can be more devoted to You. Amen
Day 4: The Power of Listening as Love
Scripture:
James 1:19 NIV
'My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JAS.1.19
Devotional:
True presence with others is not just about being physically near, but about giving our full attention—listening deeply, without distraction or interruption, so that others feel truly heard and valued. Research and experience show that being heard is almost indistinguishable from being loved, and that an open ear is the surest sign of an open heart. In a world full of distractions and divided attention, practicing attentive listening is a powerful way to express Christlike love, whether with family, friends, or even strangers. This kind of presence requires us to set aside our own agendas and truly enter into the experience of another, offering them the gift of our time and attention.
Reflection:
Who is someone you can intentionally listen to today—without interrupting or multitasking—so they feel truly heard and loved?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for always listening to me. Please help me to be more attentive to others and show them love by listening deeply to them. Open my heart and ears to those around me today who need this gift of love. Amen.
Day 5: The Cost and Commitment of Loving Presence
Scripture:
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PHP.2.3-4
Devotional:
Loving others as God loves us requires more than good intentions; it demands the willingness to pay the cost of giving our time, attention, and listening, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. Our culture often values experiences and efficiency over the slow, repeated acts of love that build real connection, but Christ calls us to a different standard. Being truly present—with God and with others—means making deliberate choices to set aside distractions and invest ourselves in relationships, even when it is hard. This is how we grow to be more like Jesus: by practicing presence, not just proximity, and letting our love be measured by our willingness to show up for others.
Reflection:
Which spiritual practice or act of service can you commit to this week to help you grow in love and reflect Christ to those around you?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I reflect You in all I do and especially to others around me. Please help me to honour You above all and to put others' needs before my own as You commanded. May my life reflect You and You love. Amen.
Day 6: The Impact of Technology on Our Ability to Be Present
Scripture:
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
'And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/HEB.10.24-25
Devotional:
In today’s world, technology offers incredible opportunities to connect, communicate, and be present with others across distances. Yet, as Andrew reminded us in his message, these same tools can also create barriers to genuine presence, both with God and with those around us.
We can be physically near someone but mentally distracted, absorbed in our devices rather than engaging with them. This patchy presence can cause pain and distance in relationships, even when we are technically "connected".
Let’s reflect on how technology influences our ability to truly be present and how we can intentionally practice love through presence.
Reflection:
What boundaries do you need to put in place with technology to help you be more present with others around you and with God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for the times that I have allowed technology distract me from focusing on You and those You have placed in my life. Please help me to use technology in a healthy way through good boundaries and practices. Thank You Lord. Amen.
Day 7: Jesus’ Presence Brings Life
Scriptures:
John 11:25-26 NIV
'Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.11.25-26
John 10:10 NIV
'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.10.10
In John 11:17-44, we see a story that reveals the heart of God's love and the importance of being truly present with those who need us most. Just as Jesus was present with Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, God calls us to practice love through presence — being there for others in their time of need.
Living an abundant life is best fulfilled in loving others the way that Jesus loves us. We can only do that out of spending time with Him and in the Bible so we can know Him and follow Him.
Reflection:
What change can you make today to help you know Jesus more?
Is there a relationship that you need to focus on today to bring life and love to that person?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You bring an abundance of Your love into my life. Please help me to live in that love so that I can bring life to others and lead them into Your loving arms. Amen.
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