Off The Charts - Week 2
Week 2 Recap:
Today Is the Day: Embracing God’s Promises and Love
Introduction: Every day is a gift, and this sermon reminds us of a profound truth: “Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This declaration is both a promise and a command—a reminder of God’s faithfulness and an invitation to live with joy, no matter the challenges we face. Exploring the depth and freeness of God’s love, we’re encouraged to align our hearts with God’s promises and to comprehend the immeasurable nature of His love as revealed in Jesus Christ.
The Promise of Today: “Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This verse is both a promise from God and a command for us to embrace. Every day, regardless of its challenges, is crafted by the Lord. It is easy to wake up consumed by the negativity around us—news, social media, or personal struggles—but this promise shifts our perspective. We are reminded that God’s sovereignty, goodness, and generosity surpass anything the world throws our way. By starting each day with this truth, we position our hearts to rejoice in God’s presence and faithfulness.
Measuring God’s Love: The dimensions of God’s love are immeasurable, yet Scripture invites us to try and grasp its vastness. Ephesians 3:17-19 describes this love as having length, width, height, and depth that surpasses knowledge, filling us with the fullness of God. Pastor Manny emphasizes that comprehending God’s love transforms us. It allows us to be rooted in faith, to see life through the lens of His promises, and to reflect His love in our daily lives. When we seek to know Christ’s love, we begin to understand the unshakable foundation of our faith.
Sacrifice - The Greatest Measure of Love: “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus speaks these words long before the cross, yet they foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice He willingly makes for us. We draw parallels to the sacrifices we witness in our own lives, such as parents sacrificing for their children or soldiers laying down their lives for their country. However, the love of Jesus stands apart because it is freely given, without obligation or coercion. It is this sacrificial and unconditional love that reveals the fullness of God’s character.
God’s Love Is Freely Given: True love is not bound by duty or obligation. As Pastor Manny explains, the depth of love is revealed in the freedom with which it is given. Hosea 14:4 illustrates this beautifully: “I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them.” God’s love is not earned by our actions or diminished by our failures. Instead, it flows from His very nature. This freeness challenges us to receive His love with humility and to reflect it in our interactions with others. It reminds us that our worth is not based on performance but on the immeasurable grace of God.
Jesus: The Ultimate Expression of God’s Love: The life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ provide the ultimate expression of God’s love. In John 10:17-18, Jesus declares, “I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.” This voluntary act of love is the foundation of our faith. It demonstrates that God’s love is not just sacrificial but also intentional and free. Through Jesus, we see the immeasurable riches of God’s grace. As we’re reminded, our faith hinges on Jesus, who reveals the fullness of God’s love and makes it accessible to all.
Closing: The message calls us to embrace the promises of God and to live in the reality of His love. Each day, we have the opportunity to remind ourselves: “Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This truth anchors us in God’s faithfulness and inspires us to face life’s challenges with confidence. Through Jesus Christ, we are invited to experience a love that is off the charts—immeasurable, sacrificial, and freely given. Let us hold onto this love, live it out, and share it with a world that desperately needs hope and grace.
