are you a witness to the world?
Alright, alright, I know, another post on love.
You know how I always said last time, that when you proclaim your faith, the whole world will be watching you? It still holds.
The whole world is watching how we love one another.
Why does it work that way? Because Jesus gave the world the right to judge the authenticity of our faith by how much we love one another. We prove our faith in Christ not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give. In John 13:35, Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples." Our love for one another is therefore a tangible and contagious reflection of God's love - which allows the world to witness the power of transformed lives.
The best thing we can do for our community (friends, workplace, school, etc.) for Christ, is to love each other. As we love the people in God's kingdom, we have to first start by loving other believers. Until the world sees the love of God modeled in Christian community, they're going to have trouble believing it could ever exist.
When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, what do you think He meant?
Here's what I see it as:
The world is desperate for love and a sense of community. We're to be the salt, that increases their thirst for the Living Water.
John 7:38, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him"
Community involves unity. See it? Comm(unity). No unity, no community. Our love for one another shows the world our unity with the Father. Jesus said to His Father, "I want all [my disciples] to be one with each other, just as I am one with You and You are one with Me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that You sent Me." (John 17:21)
The influence of our congregation is not about attendance or programs. Our influence is based upon our love for one another. We make a statement about God by the way we love one another. It may be a positive statement or it may be a negative one, but the fact is: You may be the only picture of Jesus people will ever see.
We often think that we're known for what we're against, rather than what we are for - the Good News of a love that is so wide, long, high and deep, that it encompasses more than any of us could ever imagine. (Ephesians 3:18)
We are meant to be the points of love and light in the darkness of our communities, to let our light shine so that others will see the good and praise our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
Here's something to think about:
People are less impressed with our words than they are with our actions of love for one another. Your love for one another speaks volumes about God's love: how loud is YOUR voice?
You know how I always said last time, that when you proclaim your faith, the whole world will be watching you? It still holds.
The whole world is watching how we love one another.
Why does it work that way? Because Jesus gave the world the right to judge the authenticity of our faith by how much we love one another. We prove our faith in Christ not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give. In John 13:35, Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples." Our love for one another is therefore a tangible and contagious reflection of God's love - which allows the world to witness the power of transformed lives.
The best thing we can do for our community (friends, workplace, school, etc.) for Christ, is to love each other. As we love the people in God's kingdom, we have to first start by loving other believers. Until the world sees the love of God modeled in Christian community, they're going to have trouble believing it could ever exist.
When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, what do you think He meant?
Here's what I see it as:
The world is desperate for love and a sense of community. We're to be the salt, that increases their thirst for the Living Water.
John 7:38, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him"
Community involves unity. See it? Comm(unity). No unity, no community. Our love for one another shows the world our unity with the Father. Jesus said to His Father, "I want all [my disciples] to be one with each other, just as I am one with You and You are one with Me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that You sent Me." (John 17:21)
The influence of our congregation is not about attendance or programs. Our influence is based upon our love for one another. We make a statement about God by the way we love one another. It may be a positive statement or it may be a negative one, but the fact is: You may be the only picture of Jesus people will ever see.
We often think that we're known for what we're against, rather than what we are for - the Good News of a love that is so wide, long, high and deep, that it encompasses more than any of us could ever imagine. (Ephesians 3:18)
We are meant to be the points of love and light in the darkness of our communities, to let our light shine so that others will see the good and praise our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
Here's something to think about:
People are less impressed with our words than they are with our actions of love for one another. Your love for one another speaks volumes about God's love: how loud is YOUR voice?
posted by Jeddy! | 8:50 PM
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