Roped Into God's Love

A modern musical’s famous song begins: “Love is a many splendored thing, Love lifts us up where we belong, All you need is love!” The singer of that song is trying to communicate that love makes a profound difference in another person’s life. And, as we’ve reached this final Sunday in Advent, “Love” is our theme. Thomas Cranmer was onto this when for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, he wrote this collect: “Lord raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great succor us [we’re praying for the assistance of another]; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we be sore let and hindered, thy bountiful grace and mercy, through the satisfaction of thy son our Lord, may speedily deliver us; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.” Another invitation says, “Let us celebrate, for the Word has been made flesh! In the Babe, love has a face. His name is Jesus. With the shepherds and angels on a starry night, we rejoice over our Savior.” Jesus is Love Incarnate. He’s become man for us.

Today, I want us to revel in God’s love. Like that singer in the modern musical, being loved by God does indeed make a profound difference in our lives. So, one aim I have this morning is for those who don’t know this love. Christmas is about God giving His Son so you can live differently. Another aim I have today is for all of you who already have that information. Many of us have no problem thinking God loves us, which is great. But God’s love and work in our lives don’t keep us stagnant. It produces fruit that affects us. Jesus reminded us of this in the parable of the unforgiving servant.

Listen to how Matthew unfolds what it looks like to love others: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

For Jesus, God’s love coming into our hearts means that we show love to others; we love because He first loved us. And, I’m not calling you to simply good works. I invite you into a deeper union with Jesus that translates to how you live. What good is a worship service if you leave it and spout off hatred or fall into passive-aggressive nonsense? We are to be a people marked by love. Today, then, we’re going to marvel at God’s love that it may affect our lives. God’s love for us through Jesus affects us. Let’s see how this unfolds in Isaiah 55…

Read Isaiah 55:1-5 (This is God’s Word; thanks be to God)

Today, we’ll see 3 connections or implications of God’s love for us in Jesus. First, God’s love for us in Jesus means we are… I. Invited to come to Him. (1)

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

Here’s how one scholar summarized what’s happening in Isaiah at this point: “Isaiah now concludes chapters 40–55, a major section of his book. He has been assuring us of God’s purpose of grace for his undeserving people. “Comfort, comfort my people” (40:1) set the tone for this entire section. “The Lord laid on [the Servant] the iniquity of us all” (53:6) climaxed the section. And the overflowing grace of God, guaranteeing our glorious future, cheers our miserable present, as Isaiah now emphasizes in chapters 54–55.” 

For all these chapters, grace upon grace has come to people. And you can imagine how powerful this message was to those who still have the bitter pill of Babylon in their throats. It’s almost as if God is saying, I really do love you. I’m a good Father. Lean into me. So, when chapter 55 begins with this invitation to come, we may wonder if it’s too good to be true. In v.1, how many times do you see the word “come”? Think of it. Four times in one verse! And listen to how alluring this invitation is. Come, everyone who thirsts. God is inviting us out of our desperation. He’s inviting us out of our need. And He’s inviting us to His satisfying answer: “Come to the waters.” So, we are in desperation, and God invites us to come.

There’s also a helplessness. Those who have no money are invited to come, buy and eat! In other words, we’re invited to come whether or not we feel worthy. We’re asked to divest ourselves of any righteousness, position, or qualifications we can put together. We’re invited to something free. God’s inviting us and assuring us that He will supply our needs. We come and don’t have to settle for the bargain bin of eating and drinking. We come and buy wine and milk without money and without price. Are you getting the message? God’s love for us in Christ is so rich that we’re invited to come, NO MATTER WHAT! No excuse can keep us from this invitation. Out of our desperation and our helplessness, God’s inviting us and assuring us that He has us. God’s love for us in Christ begins as He invites us to come to Him.

God’s love for us in Christ means we are II. Promised eternal love. (2-3) 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

Do you need an incentive to come to Jesus? That’s really what is spelled out in vv.2-3. V.2 is disclosing the futility of doing things in our own way and our own strength and resources. Do you see that? Why spend money on what isn’t needed? That’s an odd question when we’re thinking about answering God’s invitation to come. So, what’s likely being contrasted is how we use our best-laid plans in ways that don’t satisfy. What God is offering us (at the end of v.2) if we’ll only listen and come is a feast, eating what is good, delighting ourselves in rich food. This is what the good news of Jesus will give us: an endless feast of delight where we are more loved and satisfied than we ever thought possible.

And, if this isn’t enough, another invitation is extended. “Incline your ear” is the call. It’s as if God is saying, “Lift up your ear to hear God’s voice,” and come to Him. Hear that your soul may live. He’s inviting us into real life. He’s not only offering life in the here and now but has an eternal plan that He’ll make good on. He’s promising an everlasting covenant with us, giving us the steadfast and sure love He has, that covenant-keeping love like He promised David. What He's offering us in life eternal is “the everlasting kingdom of Jesus, the true and better David, our Messiah. God will never revoke this covenant with his people, for their sin is covered in it and their glory guaranteed by it.” This is good news that Jesus Christ, our Lord, guarantees God’s eternal love to us. This message settled so well that even Paul used this verse when he first launched on mission in Acts 13. As he reasoned from the synagogue, Paul helped listeners connect God’s eternal love for them in Jesus.

Also, we could think of John 3:16: “For God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shouldn’t perish but have everlasting life.” This verse has teeth because we see that in Jesus, all the hopes and fears of all the years are taken away from us and replaced with eternal, settled, sure security. As we trust in Jesus, we are assured that we are loved eternally. God has promised this in Jesus, and it will surely come to pass.

Third and finally, God’s love for us in Christ means we are III. Assured of Jesus’s love for all peoples. (4-5) 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

Notice how these final two verses both begin with behold. You might remember that this is Bible-speak for hey, wake up, pay attention, don’t miss this, see this. And, we see this promised One, Jesus, is before all the peoples. He’s a witness, leader, and commander. In other words, part of what Jesus will do in His life will be something that puts Him up before all. This means that other nations, nations that we don’t even know, or nations that we would never think would be God’s people, will be people who belong to Jesus because God will ensure that Jesus is the storyline of all people.

It is really true that the angels announced to the shepherds in Jesus, “Good news of great joy [has come] for all people.” It was wise men from the East who were early worshippers of Him. He was sent to Egypt so that it could be true that “out of Egypt, God called His Son.” All of what Jesus has done keeps reminding us that God will come through for all people. You and I are even beneficiaries of this. Why would a nation like ours have people that know God? We’re not Jewish, by and large. We’re a melting pot of people from every tribe and nation. What a place for God to show His love. And, further, doesn’t this compel you to make Him known in places where He’s not? His love isn’t just for the religious but for ALL PEOPLE. And, if His love is for all people, what does it mean when you are united to Him and not showing love to others? God’s love for us draws us out to an assurance of His love for all people.

In conclusion, today, we’ve seen God’s love for us in Jesus means we are…

I. Invited to come to Him. (1)

II. Promised an eternal love. (2-3)

III. Assured of Jesus’s rule of the world. (4-5)

Because of God’s love for us in Jesus, will you come to Him? John 1 tells us what it means to come to Him, to receive Him: “All who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” So, just like we’ve seen today, God can save you through Jesus. Will you come to Him?

And, if you are united to Jesus, will you love? This season, I want to foster a deeper love for Jesus. He came for you to save you from your sins. And God’s love for you will go on and on, not because you’re better at keeping rules or doing what He says. In Frosty the Snowman, the magician must do penance to achieve forgiveness. Here’s how the exchange goes with Santa:

Santa: If you so much as lay a finger on the brim, I’ll never bring you another Christmas present as long as you live.

Magician: Never?

Santa: Never!

Magician: No more trick cards or magic balls or…

Santa: No more anything.

Magician: Oh, that’s not fair. I mean, we evil magicians have to make a living, too.

Santa: Now you go home and write “I am very sorry for what I did to Frosty” a hundred zillion times. And then maybe, just maybe, mind you…you’ll find something in your stocking tomorrow morning.

Magician: A new hat, maybe? Oh, yes, sir. Goodbye, everyone. I’ve got to get busy writing.

The good news from heaven is to come and receive. We don’t have to do something a million zillion times to measure up or make promises that we can’t keep. We go all in with Jesus, and this changes us. We are given a new nature that translates to how we treat people. One writer described love this way: “Biblical love refers to more than just a feeling. It's about caring for someone regardless of their response, and it's modeled perfectly by Jesus.” So, empowered by such a love that comes through knowing Jesus, would you make Him known to all people? Would they experience love from you out of the overflow of a life devoted to glorifying God and enjoying Him forever?