choose to love your neighbor

In what I share today I want us to think about our neighbors. Not about who they are. Not about how hard it is to love people or how we should love them. Think about what happens when we choose to simply love people the way God loves us.

Romans 13:8 NASB

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

We owe people love like we are called to love God. So, when we love, we are completing the law referred to in that verse. The law doesn’t have a hold on us because we truly do live in the time of grace, but we do have the opportunity of letting our love be something that helps others see and know God.

John 13:34-35 NASB

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

They know we belong to God when we love others. I am His disciple. That isn’t just words or a phrase. It is reality when it is seen or even measured. Try it on for size. Maybe turn the other direction and watch how others love. Watch those people close to you. Watch those who you don’t even know.

Galatians 5:14 NASB

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

My heart is filled, compassion soars higher, there’s a sigh in my voice, and there is fulfillment in me when I see that the command to love is being listened to.

Remember Jesus said he didn’t come to earth to remove or neglect the law. He came to fulfill it. Our love allows the law to find a resting place or to not worry about it. Love literally becomes a covering from God that helps us and others experience God.

John 15:13 NASB

Greater love has no one than this, that one laydown his life for his friends.

Jesus has been the example. We may not be called on to die for others, but we might be asked to be a little less selfish, to give some of our resources, to sacrifice some of our time all for the opportunity to love our neighbor as our self.

Remember what Jesus asked the lawyer that was trying to trick Him. The lawyer asked who his neighbor is. Jesus pointed out that everyone who shows compassion is the best neighbor.

Choose to love. Whoever comes across your path deserves the love of God that flows through you.

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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