Leaving A Lasting Legacy
LEAVING A LEGACY OF LOVE

“There are three things that will endure — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

WHY IS THE GREATEST LOVE?

* It’s what I long for
* It’s what I need to change my life
* It’s what I can pass on to others to leave a legacy

“...for God is love.” 1 John 4:8b (NLT)

“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 (MSG)

“Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions?” James 2:14 (NLT)

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” John 13:34-35 (NLT)

TO DEEPEN MY LOVE…

1. I MUST REPLACE MY DESIRE FOR CONVENIENCE WITH OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WAYS…

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always ‘me first,’ Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (MSG)

“[Jesus said] If you love Me, obey My commandments.” John 14:15 (NLT)

“Loving God means keeping His commandments, and really, that isn’t difficult.”
1 John 5:3 (NLT)

2. I MUST SOAK-IN GOD’S LOVE… AND CONSTANTLY BE FILLED-UP

* God’s love is personal

“I am the good shepherd; I know My own sheep…” John 10:14 (NLT)
* God’s love is transformational

“If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

* God’s love is sacrificial

“The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”
Romans 8:3 (NLT)

“Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to Him.” Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)