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The Story of Love - Ben
Sermon Summary
Ben emphasises that love is the ultimate marker of spiritual growth, demonstrated through a commitment to be present with others and for their good, reflecting God's love revealed through Jesus Christ.
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We are all on a journey of growth, and just as we love to measure the progress of our children or the milestones in our lives, our spiritual journey also invites us to consider how we are growing. The journey of following Jesus is a lifelong process of being reshaped and reformed by the Holy Spirit to become more like Christ. This transformation is not accidental; it requires intentionality, discipline, and practice—much like learning to play an instrument. While attending church, reading Scripture, and listening to teaching are valuable, they are not enough on their own. True spiritual growth happens as we actively partner with the Holy Spirit, practicing the way of Jesus in our daily lives.
The most important marker of our spiritual progress is not knowledge, religious activity, or even the miracles we witness, but love. Jesus himself taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Love is the defining characteristic of a follower of Jesus, the “sharpie mark on the doorframe” of growth in our spiritual lives. It is not merely an inward feeling or a private decision, but something that must be expressed outwardly in our relationships and actions.
Defining love can be challenging, but Scripture and the wisdom of Christian thinkers help us see that love is a commitment to be present with another and for their good. This is how God loves us, and how we are called to love God and others. The Bible is, at its core, the story of love—because God is love. In Jesus, love was revealed most fully, as God gave his Son so that we might live through him. We are “loved into loving,” made in the image of Love himself, and called to reflect that love in the world.
To grow in love, we must intentionally center our lives on Christ, practicing habits that draw us closer to him and to others—prayer, meditation on Scripture, worship, community, service, and self-examination. This is not always easy, as true love often comes at a cost and runs counter to the self-centeredness of our culture. Yet, as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we are shaped and molded into people who love more deeply and authentically. The questions we must continually ask ourselves are: Am I becoming a person of love? Am I more loving today than I was before? And what can I do to partner with God in this ongoing transformation?
Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual growth is a partnership between our intentional choices and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Just as learning an instrument requires practice and discipline, becoming more like Jesus demands that we actively engage in habits and practices that shape us over time. Passive participation or mere exposure to Christian activities is not enough; growth requires our ongoing, willing cooperation.
2. The truest measure of our progress in Christlikeness is love—not knowledge, religious activity, or even spiritual experiences. Jesus made it clear that loving God and loving others are the greatest commandments, and this love is the defining mark of his followers. If we want to know how we are growing, we must honestly ask whether we are becoming more loving people.
3. Love is not simply an emotion or a vague ideal, but a concrete commitment to be present with others and to seek their good. This kind of love mirrors the way God loves us—faithful, sacrificial, and for our benefit. It is a love that must be practised and embodied in real relationships, not just talked about or admired from a distance.
4. Our ability to love flows from the fact that we are first loved by God. The source of all true love is God himself, who revealed his love most fully in Jesus. As we receive and abide in this love, we are empowered to love others—not out of our own strength, but as a response to the love that has been poured into us.
5. Growing in love requires intentional practices that centre us on Christ and open us to the Spirit’s shaping. This includes prayer, meditation on Scripture, worship, community, service, and even removing distractions that hinder love. It also means being willing to pay the cost of love, which often runs counter to the comfort and self-focus of our culture.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: Spiritual Growth Is a Lifelong, Intentional Journey
Scripture:
Romans 12:1-2
'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Spiritual growth does not happen by accident or simply over time; it is a lifelong process that requires intentionality, discipline, and partnership with the Holy Spirit. Just as learning an instrument takes practice and commitment, becoming more like Jesus involves daily choices, repeated actions, and a willingness to be shaped and transformed. This journey is not about instant change but about steady, faithful progress as we allow God to reshape us into Christlikeness.
Reflection:
What is one small, intentional practice you can begin today to partner with the Holy Spirit in your spiritual growth?
Prayer:
God, help me grow in a deeper love for You and for those around me. Holy Spirit, shape my heart to become more loving with each passing day. Amen.
Day 2: Love Is the True Measure of Spiritual Formation
Scripture:
Matthew 22:37-39
'Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
The clearest indicator of spiritual maturity is not knowledge, religious activity, or even spiritual experiences, but love—love for God and love for others. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our being and to love our neighbour as ourselves. This love is not just a feeling or belief but is meant to be visible and tangible in our actions and relationships, serving as the true “mile marker” of our progress in becoming like Christ.
Reflection:
If someone close to you were asked, would they say you are more loving today than you were a year ago? What evidence would they point to?
Prayer:
Jesus, reveal to me the areas in my life where I need to be more present and committed to others. Teach me how to love in a way that reflects Your faithfulness and goodness. Amen.
Day 3: Love Is a Commitment to Be Present and for the Good of Others
Scripture:
1 John 4:7-12
'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/11...
Devotional:
Love is more than an emotion or a fleeting feeling; it is a rugged, persistent commitment to be present with others and to seek their good. This kind of love mirrors the way God loves us—faithfully, sacrificially, and for our benefit. It is a love that costs something, often requiring us to move beyond comfort and self-interest, and to intentionally choose the good of another, even when it is difficult.
Reflection:
Who is one person you can intentionally be present with and seek their good this week, even if it costs you comfort or convenience?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, transform me. Shape me into someone who lives with intentional, Christ-like love. Help me to keep growing spiritually and loving well. Amen
Day 4: We Are Loved Into Loving—God Is the Source and Model of Love
Scripture:
1 John 4:19
'We love because he first loved us. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Our ability to love comes from being loved by God first; we are made in the image of love Himself. God’s love is not just a concept but a person—Jesus—who demonstrated the ultimate act of love by giving Himself for us. As we receive and experience God’s love, we are transformed and enabled to love others in return, reflecting His character and heart to the world.
Reflection:
How can you intentionally receive and rest in God’s love for you today, allowing it to shape the way you love others?
Prayer:
God, help me understand and live out a kind of love that’s bigger than feelings—a love that costs something. Give me the strength to love even when it’s hard. Amen
Day 5: Eternal Life Is Now—Living with God in the Present
Scripture:
Colossians 3:12-14
'Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Becoming a person of love requires ongoing, intentional practice—centring our lives on God through prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, and active participation in community. These practices help us to re-centre on love Himself, to be shaped by His presence, and to express love in practical ways through service, generosity, and self-sacrifice. The journey is not always easy, but as we practice, we are gradually transformed into the likeness of Christ.
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:
I ask for humility and openness, Lord. Gently chip away at the rough edges in my heart and mold me into someone who is soft, kind, and full of love. Amen.
Day 6: The Cost and Commitment of Love
Scripture:
John 15:12-13
'My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Love is a commitment to be present and for the good of others, even when it costs us. Jesus demonstrated this perfectly by laying down His life for us. Loving others isn’t always easy or comfortable; it requires sacrifice and intentionality. Our culture may celebrate love, but true love often involves giving of ourselves—time, energy, and even our lives—for the good of others.
Reflection:
Are there things in your life that distract you from becoming more loving? Consider removing or changing them.
Do your actions reflect your commitment to love and be present with others and for their good?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for Your sacrificial love. Teach me to love with that same depth of commitment. Help me to be present with others, to serve, and to lay down my own desires for their good. May my love reflect Your selfless heart. Amen.
Day 7: Measuring Our Spiritual Growth Through Love
Scripture:
1 John 4:7-8
'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. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Just as we measure our children’s height on a doorframe, the true marker of our spiritual growth is love. Love is not just an emotion or a good deed; it is the very essence of who God is. When we seek to grow more like Jesus, the greatest evidence is our increasing capacity to love God and others. Love reveals whether we are truly in step with the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
Reflection:
Are you intentionally practising love in your daily life to see spiritual growth? How can you measure your progress in becoming more loving towards God and others?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to see love as the true measure of my spiritual journey. May I grow in love each day, reflecting Your love more clearly to those around me. Shape my heart to be more like Yours, so that love becomes the marker of my life. Amen.
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