Love

The essence of our calling is summed up in a single word: Love. In a world that has romanticized and sexualized love, the church has a beautiful opportunity to show the love of God Himself. Yet, each local church must ask, “Have we confused being ‘nice’ or ‘neighborly’ for being truly loving? Do the people of our community see us as a loving people? Are we dependent upon the Spirit to live His loving fruit through us?”

What does Love in our lives look like? What if it looked like a Starbucks coffee shop?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

Did you see the love of Christ here?

Here are the scriptures I will be looking at for the next few blogs.

Matt. 22:34–40; Luke 6:27–36; John 13:34–35, 15:9–17; Rom. 5:5–8, 13:8–10; Gal. 5:6, 13–14, 22; Eph. 3:14–19

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not lust;” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love works no ill to its neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8-10 MKJV)

Do I need to say why love does not commit adultery, murder, stealing, bearing false witness, lusting, or worshipping idols instead of God?

Let us look at murder, sense we probably think it is the worst.

In John 13:34–35, 15:9–17, we read we are to love one another. When I think of this I think of loving our like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ: and so much the more we should. But that is not what this verse is telling me.

Christ died for all mankind. His atonement for the world covers all the sins for all people past, present, and future. We may with difficulty die for a loved one (husband, wife, child) or even a very close friend, but what about a righteous man or woman? Maybe, but there may be a little hesitation… What about someone on death row? Now that is just not worldly. The notion for dying for such a criminal just does not seem normal. But GOD!! But Jesus did so. Remember the thief on the cross? He was not there for a misdemeanor. The word thief in the Greek is the same as the Greek word used for Barabbas, robber; (Mr 15:7 And there was [one] named Barabbas, [which lay] bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.  Joh 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.) We see Barabbas was a robber who robbed with the intent to kill and do bodily harm. Another example is in Luke chapter 10 and the Good Samaritan where the man fell among thieves (same Greek word) and was half dead. Beaten half to death… And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:30 KJV). Don’t forget about the thief on the cross. Yes, this is the same Greek word used for Barabbas. He was not some petty thief. Yet Jesus said Today you will be in Paradise with Me.

But God commends His love toward us in while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!! Godly love, agape love… If we are to be more like Christ we must at least acknowledge the fact that we are to love as God loves us, even to die for the least likely of mankind.

I would say this is a hard pill to swallow. Ask God to put the love of Christ in your heart as Christ loves us and gives us salvation and the hope of eternal life even while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. “and hope does not make us ashamed”. We have hope through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! Remember 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Charity being agape love. We find the love of God in the company of faith and hope. These are all essential to becoming more like Christ. We have faith and trust in God Who gives us hope in a sure salvation because He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that we can have eternal life. A future hope that is in faith, trust, and agape love.

Lord help us have your agape love abiding in our hearts so that we may shed your love aboard and be Christ-like. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

In Christ,

Greg

 Love Part 4

Love

The essence of our calling is summed up in a single word: Love. In a world that has romanticized and sexualized love, the church has a beautiful opportunity to show the love of God Himself. Yet, each local church must ask, “Have we confused being ‘nice’ or ‘neighborly’ for being truly loving? Do the people of our community see us as a loving people? Are we dependent upon the Spirit to live His loving fruit through us?”

What does Love in our lives look like? What if it looked like a Starbucks coffee shop?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

Did you see the love of Christ here?

Here are the scriptures I will be looking at for the next few blogs.

Matt. 22:34–40; Luke 6:27–36; John 13:34–35, 15:9–17; Rom. 5:5–8, 13:8–10; Gal. 5:6, 13–14, 22; Eph. 3:14–19

 

As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:9-17 MKJV)

Jesus revisits the new commandment and adds as My Father has loved Me. We know God’s love is “agape” or unconditional love. Jesus also reminds us that to love God is to keep His commandments. This is love through honoring God’s perfect will.

Jesus also puts the seal of His sacrificial life for you and me to ensure the depth of God’s love for us is truly laying down one’s own life for another. “No one has greater love than this,” Jesus says.

Like most Biblical writings, the point is stressed 3 times. He starts off with how His Father loves Him, so love one another.  He says it straight forward, My commandment is … and then ends with I command you, that you love one another. In Chapter 14:15 He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 MKJV) Like friendly book ends John 14:15 and 15:14 tell us to keep His commandments. Abide in His love and your joy will be full. Jesus said, “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.”

You know “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3 KJV).

When the yoke of Christ is not grievous to you, you have the love of God abiding in you….

 

In Christ,

Greg

Love

The essence of our calling is summed up in a single word: Love. In a world that has romanticized and sexualized love, the church has a beautiful opportunity to show the love of God Himself. Yet, each local church must ask, “Have we confused being ‘nice’ or ‘neighborly’ for being truly loving? Do the people of our community see us as a loving people? Are we dependent upon the Spirit to live His loving fruit through us?”

What does Love in our lives look like? What if it looked like a Starbucks coffee shop?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

Did you see the love of Christ here?

Here are the scriptures I will be looking at for the next few blogs.

Matt. 22:34–40; Luke 6:27–36; John 13:34–35, 15:9–17; Rom. 5:5–8, 13:8–10; Gal. 5:6, 13–14, 22; Eph. 3:14–19

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. And to him who strikes you on the one cheek, also offer the other. And to him who takes away your garment, do not forbid your tunic also. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise. For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do the same. And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36 MKJV)

Jesus gives us a deeper meaning of love in Luke 6:27-36. He is commanding us to love our enemies. This is very contradictory to our human nature and the ways of the world. It again is vulnerable. We first must trust Jesus and believe that He, God, has our best interest in mind. Not only does He have our best interest in mind but also our enemies best interest. If we can love our enemies than they will see the love of God, the seed (not the coffee bean, watch video above) being planted in their hearts. “Every tree is known by its own fruit” (see Luke 6:43,44; Mat 7:17; 12:33).  Jesus also tells us to bless those who curse you and to pray for those who despitefully use you. Vulnerability! Meekness! Ring out. Emotional transference may make us bite our tongues. How do I handle those who curse me and despitefully use me? Jesus tells me to bless and pray for them. I believe it is a spiritual law that works. It is the opposite of this physical world and it is ignorance to put it bluntly. I must trust God, Jesus while on earth gave us examples of meekness, strength under control. How much easier is it to love like-minded people? Yet Jesus concludes for our mercy we will be rewarded.

Where is your reward? Are you storing them up in heaven or here on earth?

 

In Christ,

Greg

Achieving God’s purpose means taking faith-filled risks this always involves change.

Jesus had to take faith filled risks whenever he went to Jerusalem, because he knew the religious leaders were out to kill Him. (John 11:8). Thomas even said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16 MKJV).

Jesus still went to the Passover, even though He knew the high chief priest sought to kill Him, (Luke 22:1).

When speaking the truth, the Jews wanted to stone Him for saying “I and my Father are one.” For the Jews knew He made Himself equal to God, (John 10:30-33).

Jesus, even knowing He would be crucified, went to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s will, (Mat 26:36-46).

We may not know the purpose of circumstances but what we think is evil, God can use it for good, (Gen 50:20). “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20 KJV)

Some risks are not so life threatening. It might be a matter of stepping out in faith, laying aside your pride, not worrying about what people think of you, or putting aside embedded theologies and/or beliefs. We must get out of our comfort zones to see real change and I dare say to see the hand of God move. What are you changing?

In Christ,

Greg

Completing the great commission will require the mobilization of every fully devoted disciple.

We can see through Jesus’ example that we must be devoted disciples in order to complete the great commission. He started off with a few men and gathered more as He went along, through selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation, and supervision He was able to reproduce disciples who could do the same. He eventually sent out the 12 disciples in Luke 9:1, and then the 70 in Luke 10:1.

Jesus was preparing them for His departure. They went out to preach the Kingdom of God with all power and authority while knowing they would return to Jesus to give a report i.e. Luke 10:17, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name” (Luke 10:17 MKJV).

After Christ’s resurrection He told them, “And He said to them, So it is written, and so it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be proclaimed in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high. And He led them out as far as Bethany. And lifting up His hands, He blessed them” (Luke 24:46-50 MKJV). And in Acts 1:8 He said, But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 MKJV).

These men were devoted to Jesus even unto death as the historians or tradition have been passed down each man being martyred except the Apostle John who still suffered for his belief and proclamation of Jesus, yet died of old age.

The Great Commission after almost 2000 years has not been fully completed so it is going to take every fully devoted disciple to do so.

In Christ,

Greg