Sermon for Trinity 2. The Scripture readings are Proverbs 9:1-10; 1 John 3:13-18; and Luke 14:15-24.

Love is not simply what makes you or someone else feel good. The world wants you to think that love can be defined in all sorts of different ways. The world’s attempts at love are only empty words and talk.

The only way we can know what love is, is to look to Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross. “By this we know love, that [Jesus] laid down His life for us” (1 Jn. 3:16). We know love only in knowing Jesus crucified for us. You can’t find this love anywhere else, and you can’t produce this love apart from fellowship with God through faith in Christ.

The Holy Spirit works faith into our hearts and pours the love of God into us. In doing this, the Holy Spirit also enables us to love others. The love of God that we receive through faith is the very love we show our neighbor by our deeds while living in the truth.