December 24, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
4th
Sunday of Advent
Christmas
Eve Morning
Sermon
Series: “The Invitation”
“An
Invitation To Love”
“What
Is This Love…”
Lord
may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, mind, and soul be
pleasing to you. May your words be head through me or in spite of me. For you
are my Rock, my Redeemer, My Anchor and Friend, my First Love…
Good morning and welcome to “The Invitation…” The
invitation of Advent. We are almost to the end of our “Advent”ure to the
feeding tough the Bread of Life, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ was laid in.
It is the moment that God sent the invitation to all of humanity to come and
see the babe in the manger and return forever changed. Without this invitation
there is no Hope, no Peace, no Joy, and no Love…there is no invitation to
Christ. Without “The Invitation”, there is no Resurrection Sunday morning.
We have emptied our bags, our life’s suitcase so
to speak, at the door way of Advent and entered in with bags waiting to be
filled. suitcases. We have filled it with the Hope that is found within the manger,
an invitation of the Hope of a restored relationship with God. As we came
closer the Angels tell us “do not be afraid for I bring you good news.” We
gathered up and packed the clothing of Peace found in the manger, an invitation
to the Peace that we are never alone, and we know that at life’s end we will be
with the One who offers that peace. We have gathered the words of the song of
Joy and packed them near the top so that we can sing them often, an invitation
to sing for Joy because no matter what we face, the One in the manger is the
One who gives real Joy, not our circumstances.
Today we light the candle of Love. What is this
love? Love is more of an action than a feeling, true Love that is. True love,
offers grace when someone has offended us, even though the offender may never
ask for it. True love gives of one’s self, even when they don’t feel like it.
True love doesn’t hold grudges or plans its revenge, but offers mercy in spite
of the situation. True love looks for the good, even when there is no good in
sight. True love always believes that good will triumph over evil. True love is
patient and kind, even when others are acting unkindly. True love believes,
even when all hope seems to be lost. True love conquers, even in the fiercest
fight. True love always wins…
What is this love? What is “The Invitation” to “An
Invitation” to?
© It is an invitation to unconditional love.
© It is an invitation to acceptance, right where we stand.
© It is an invitation to learn to love…truly love.
© It is an invitation to the most excellent way of living.
© It is an invitation to a family of love.
© It is an invitation to what is called “Agape Love”. The essence of agape love is goodwill,
benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. This love is far more
than the romantic type of love we feel for our husband or wife. It is a love
even far deeper than the love for a child.
Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It
is the love God offers from the manger. God loves because that is His nature
and the expression of His being. He loves the unlovable and the unlovely, not
because we deserve to be loved or because of any excellence we possess, but
because it is His nature to love and He must be true to His nature. “God, being
rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we
were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you
have been saved”
© This is the love of the manger. This is “The Invitation” of
the Manger.
What is this love? It is the bring you to your
knees in adoration because you are loved unconditionally. It is the make you
weep every time you begin to realize that YOU ARE LOVED, and there is nothing
you can do about it. It is what draws you near the stable. It is what brings
you back to the manger… It is what God offered humanity over 2000 years ago. It
what He still offers today.
“How
marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!”
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!”
“Hope, Peace,
Joy, and Love to and for the World the Lord Has Come. Let Earth Receive Her
King”
Amen…
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