Love's Wonderful Effects
The sermon emphasizes the characteristics of love, including long-suffering, kindness, and not being easily provoked, and how it should be the guiding principle in our relationships with others.
D.L. Moody emphasizes the transformative power of love, illustrating how true charity is patient, kind, and not easily offended. He points out that a lack of love can lead to quick offense and separation from the church community, while genuine love fosters unity and resilience against minor grievances. Moody encourages believers to cultivate a heart filled with God's love, which enables them to overlook faults and maintain fellowship despite challenges.
Text
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil."
That's the work of love. It is not easily provoked. Now if a man has no love of God in his heart, how easy it is to become offended; perhaps with the church because some members of the church don't treat him just right, or some men of the church don't bow to him on the street, he takes offense, and that is the last you see of him. Love is long-suffering. If I love the Lord Jesus Christ, these little things are not going to separate me from His people. They are like the dust in the balance.
Nor will the cold, formal treatment of hypocrites in the church quench that love I have in my heart for Him. If this love is in the heart, and the fire is burning on the altar, we will not be all the time finding fault with other people and criticising what they have done.
Sermon Outline
- The Work of Love
- Characteristics of Love
- Long-suffering and Kindness
- Not Easily Provoked
Key Quotes
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” — D.L. Moody
“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- Love should be the guiding principle in our relationships with others, leading us to be long-suffering and kind.
- When we have love in our hearts, we will not be easily provoked by the actions of others.
- Love should burn brightly in our hearts, guiding us to seek the well-being of others.