Friday, January 21, 2011

Part two :)



The boys' memory verse last week:


 "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another.  As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  John 13:34-35

Continuing from my last post... : )   

God has been impressing upon my heart in recent months so strongly, that THIS is His big idea.  This is the thing that will be the most effective in reaching a dying world.  This is what sets Jesus apart from other "gods" and prophets, and should set us apart from other people.  When Jesus was on the earth, He attracted people to Himself.  Even apart from the miracles He did for them, and the amazing wisdom that He taught, He was irresistible to people.  Jesus truly loved people, and He consistently showed it.  He hated sin, but He loved people (and He still does.)  I believe that the more people see that we love them like Christ does, they will understand more clearly who Christ really is, and be more ready to listen when we tell them about Him.  I know, it's not some big secret, but I just don't think that we DO it enough.

Sometimes, it is just hard to really love people, though, isn't it?  Some people are just prickly, mean and nasty.  Or downright ornery stinkers!  How can we POSSIBLY love certain people?  Well, we can't.

This is the part I loved most about that David Jeremiah sermon I was telling you about.  He gave the illustration of how an ordinary piece of steel is just a piece of metal.  It doesn't have any power to do anything but sit there, and maybe be a paperweight.  But if you rub it against a magnet for a little while, something magical happens. The steel becomes a magnet itself!  It can pick up paper clips all on its own!  And THAT is how we can love those unlovable people.  If we just stay close to the source of love Himself, then we can love them like He loves them.  His Spirit is the power source.

Gossipy co-workers, whiny children, nosy neighbors, annoying telemarketers...God loves them enough to die for them.  And to be perfectly honest, you are not so lovable all the time yourself,  (me neither) and He loved us that much. 

Let's be willing to let our selfishness die, and let Christ's amazing love live in us, trusting Him to give us opportunities to share what He has done for us all--and then see what happens!





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