RELATIONSHIPS: THE WAY TO CHANGE THE WORLD
“If we were left to ourselves with the task of taking the gospel to the world, we would immediately begin planning innovative strategies and plotting elaborate schemes. We would organize conventions, develop programs, and create foundations… But Jesus is so different from us. With the task of taking the gospel to the world, he wandered through the streets and byways…All He wanted was a few men who would think as He did, love as He did, see as He did, teach as He did and serve as He did. All He needed was to revolutionize the hearts of a few, and they would impact the world.”-David Platt
A few years ago, there was a national poll that asked people what they would ask God if they could ask Him just one question. The number-one response was Why am I here?
In Matthew 22, Jesus gives us the answer: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matt. 22:37–39)
The answer to our questions of purpose is love. That's life's universal purpose.
When we ask God why we are here, His answer to us is "Relationship. You're here for a relationship with me and with each other."
Love is a verb that requires an action. We can say we "love people," but you love at another level when you show people that you love them. 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:14-18)
This passage shows that Loving people is an action that shows your faith.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)
Separation and substitution: those are his methods, and they never change. We have to work at it. We have to pursue God's plan for our lives together. The plan is to love Him and love people, especially each other. We are created for God and for relationships. That's our purpose.
LIVE IN THE FIST OF CHRIST
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Loving Jesus as Lord and Savior
Loving others