His Love, Not Ours
God's love is unconditional and based on His pity and compassion, not our worthiness or emotions.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the unconditional and compassionate love of God, emphasizing how He redeems and pities His people like a loving father does to his children. The sermon reflects on the deep yearning for God's love in our hearts and the transformative power of surrendering to His love, even in moments of doubt or when we feel unworthy. Tileston encourages looking up to God's love in times of need, knowing that His love is not dependent on our feelings but on His unchanging nature of compassion and pity towards us.
Text
In His love and in His pity He redeemed them.
--ISAIAH 63:9
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.
--PSALMS 103:13
GOD only knows the love of God:
Oh, that it now were shed abroad
In this poor stony heart;
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
Be mine this better part.
--CHARLES WESLEY
DON'T measure God's mind by your own. It would be a poor love that depended not on itself, but on the feelings of the person loved. A crying baby turns away from its mother's breast, but she does not put it away till it stops crying. She holds it closer. For my part, in the worst mood I am ever in, when I don't feel I love God at all, I just look up to His love. I say to Him, "Look at me. See what state I am in. Help me!" Ah! you would wonder how that makes peace. And the love comes of itself; sometimes so strong, it nearly breaks my heart.
--GEORGE MACDONALD
He does not love us because we art so lovely, but because He always loves what He pities.
--ELIZABETH PRENTISS
Sermon Outline
- God's Love is Unconditional
- Our Feelings Do Not Determine God's Love
- We Can Trust God's Love
- God's love is always available, even in our worst moments
- God's love is not based on our performance, but on His character
Key Quotes
“He does not love us because we are so lovely, but because He always loves what He pities.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Oh, that it now were shed abroad In this poor stony heart;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“For love I sigh, for love I pine;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We can trust God's love even when we don't feel it, and His love is always available, even in our worst moments.
- God's love is not dependent on our performance, but on His character, so we can rest in His love regardless of our circumstances.
- We can choose to focus on God's love and character, rather than our emotions, and experience peace and joy in our relationship with Him.