Sunday, October 9, 2011

Day 9: The Second Purpose of Life: Loving Others

Galatians 5:14- For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

So we know that the #1 purpose of life is to worship God; the second purpose of our life is to LOVE OTHERS.

John 13:34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

Jesus tells us that we are to love others as a witness. In today’s world, there are so many people turned off to Christ because we (His followers) have failed to show others love & compassion. I don’t blame them, if I had not grown up in a Christian home, I wonder if I may think Christians were hypocrites? When you tell someone you are a Christian, you are automatically held to a higher standard, people will watch what you say and do. If we truly love others, we see everyone as a child of God. If we took a step back to examine someone’s situation, we may realize that those least deserving of our love are often the ones who need it the most. However; we are human, it is difficult to love at all times…. We cannot do it, unless we ask for God’s help.

Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves.
- William Hazlitt

“The point of life is learning to love.” –Rick Warren

For me, it is easy to say something nice to someone or tell them that I love them, but God tells us that true love is in our actions and TIME!

1 John 3: 18- Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Time is something everyone values. Once it is gone, it is something you can never get back. When you give a friend your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that can never be returned; Time is the most valuable thing you can give someone. I am really good at expressing my feelings and telling others I care about them, but time is not my strength. I am guilty of keeping too busy of a schedule and not putting relationships first. “Busyness is a great enemy of relationships!” –Warren The best expression of love is time!

Proverbs 3:27- “Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.

Today’s Challenge: Think of someone who you may not be very close to or maybe someone you have recently had a falling out with.  Talk to that person today, reach out and form a new friendship, or mend an old one. Invite them to lunch or church and ask God to show them His love through your actions. 

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