Living Out Christ's Commandment: Love and Reconciliation

Devotional

Day 1: Love Beyond Words

The call to love others as Jesus loved us is a profound and transformative commandment. Jesus set a new standard for love, one that goes beyond mere words and is demonstrated through actions. This love is inclusive, extending to everyone, including those who are marginalized by society and even our enemies. It challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and to love with the same depth and sincerity that Jesus showed. This kind of love is not easy, but it is essential for reflecting the heart of God to the world. [54:28]

John 15:12-13 (ESV): "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you take a tangible step today to show them the love of Christ through your actions?

Day 2: Love in Action

Love is not just something we say; it is something we do. Our actions are the true testament of our love and discipleship. Jesus demonstrated this through His life, showing us that love is about caring for others, serving them, and meeting their needs. This active love is what sets us apart as followers of Christ and serves as a powerful witness to the world. It calls us to be intentional in our daily interactions, ensuring that our love is visible and impactful. [57:32]

1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Identify one practical way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can your actions reflect the love of Christ to them?

Day 3: Reconciliation as a Core Calling

The essence of the gospel is reconciliation—restoring relationships with God and with each other. As believers, we are called to actively participate in this work of reconciliation, beginning within our own community. This involves breaking down barriers, healing divisions, and fostering unity. The church should be a place where reconciliation is lived out, serving as a testimony to the world of God's transformative power. Our commitment to reconciliation is not just for our benefit but is a vital part of our witness to the world. [01:06:45]

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

Reflection: Consider a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. What steps can you take this week to begin the process of healing and restoration?

Day 4: The Church as a Sanctuary of Unity

The church is called to be a sanctuary where divisions are dismantled, and unity is fostered. Our commitment to love must start within our community, serving as a powerful testimony to the world. When the church embodies this unity, it reflects the heart of God and draws others to Him. This requires intentional effort to create an environment where everyone feels valued and included, regardless of their background or circumstances. It is through this unity that the world will come to know the love of God. [01:05:42]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Reflect on how you can contribute to unity within your church community. What is one action you can take to help dismantle divisions and foster a sense of belonging for everyone?

Day 5: Embracing the Challenge of Love

Loving others can be challenging, especially when we feel unloved ourselves. However, we are reminded of God's unwavering love for us, which empowers us to love others and participate in His work of reconciliation. This love is not based on our feelings but is an active choice to care for, uplift, and serve others. It is through embracing this challenge that we truly reflect the love of Christ and become agents of change in the world. [01:08:29]

Colossians 3:14 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt unloved. How can you draw on God's love to empower you to love others, even when it is difficult? What is one step you can take today to show love to someone who may not expect it?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound and challenging call to love others as Jesus loved us. This is not merely a suggestion but a commandment from Jesus himself, as highlighted in John 13:34-35. The essence of this commandment is not just about verbal declarations of love but about demonstrating love through our actions. Jesus set a new standard for love, urging us to love others with the same depth and sincerity that He showed. This love is not just for those who are easy to love but extends to everyone, including those on the margins of society and even our enemies.

The call to love is deeply intertwined with the concept of reconciliation. The gospel's core message is about reconciling us to God and to each other. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to participate in this work of reconciliation, which begins within our own community. The church should be a sanctuary where divisions are dismantled, and unity is fostered. This commitment to love and reconciliation is not just for our benefit but serves as a testimony to the world. Our love for one another is the evidence of our discipleship and the means by which the world will come to know the love of God.

We are reminded that love is not just a feeling but an active choice to care for others, to heal, to uplift, and to serve. It is about embodying the love of Christ in our daily interactions and relationships. This commitment to love is challenging, especially when we may not feel loved ourselves, but it is essential for the world to see and experience the true love of God.

As we reflect on this call to love, let us consider where God is calling us to work in reconciliation and who He is calling us to love. Let this commitment to love begin within our community, so that the world may fully know Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Love as Jesus Loved: Jesus introduced a new commandment to love others as He loved us, setting a new standard for love that goes beyond words to actions. This love is inclusive, extending to all, including those marginalized by society. [54:28]
2. Love is Action: Love is not merely something we say; it is something we do. Our actions are the true testament of our love and discipleship, as seen in how we care for and serve others. [57:32]
3. Reconciliation as the Gospel's Core: The gospel's essence is reconciliation—restoring relationships with God and each other. As believers, we are called to actively participate in this work, beginning within our own community. [66:45]
4. The Church as a Sanctuary: The church should be a place where divisions are dismantled, and unity is fostered. Our commitment to love must start within our community, serving as a testimony to the world. [65:42]
5. The Challenge of Love: Loving others can be difficult, especially when we feel unloved. However, we are reminded of God's unwavering love for us, which empowers us to love others and participate in His work of reconciliation. [01:08:29]
** [68:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:30] - Introduction to the Series
[49:11] - Commitment to Love
[50:06] - Prayer for California
[51:29] - The Challenge of Love
[52:36] - A New Commandment
[53:46] - Understanding the Newness
[54:28] - Love Like Jesus
[55:21] - How Jesus Loved
[56:07] - Love in Action
[56:46] - The Proof of Discipleship
[57:32] - Love as Seen and Felt
[58:32] - The Impact of Love
[60:43] - The Call to Show Love
[63:02] - The Challenge of Atheism
[65:42] - The Church's Role in Love
[66:45] - Reconciliation as the Gospel's Core
[68:29] - God's Unwavering Love
[70:37] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Sermon Clips

"Jesus told us to love our neighbors, but he showed us how to love our neighbors. Jesus told us to love our enemies, but I think he probably showed us how to love our enemies. So how did Jesus love? What does it look like to love as Jesus loved? I think it's very simple, right? We care for those who cannot care for themselves. We heal the sick and the broken." [00:55:21] (24 seconds)

"Jesus is establishing a foundational understanding about love. That love is not something you say, but it is something that is seen and felt. And Jesus actually talks about this in Matthew, chapter 7. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit." [00:56:46] (29 seconds)

"I believe the work of the gospel boiled down in my small brain. The work of the gospel is reconciliation. I believe that is, that's the reason. Somebody asked, why follow Jesus? Reconciliation. Why go to church? Reconciliation. Why did Jesus come? Reconciliation. Everything, the gospel message is rooted in reconciliation." [01:06:45] (26 seconds)

"So, in preparation for today, I have struggled with a question that I've struggled with myself, and so if I'm struggling, I would love for you to struggle with it. It's this simple question. Does my character make other people want to believe the gospel? Does my character want other people to believe the gospel message?" [01:00:43] (28 seconds)

"Let this place become a sanctuary for broken and hurting people, people who are questioning, people who don't know. Let this be a place, a sanctuary that they may know the love of God through all of you. No matter where you're from, no matter your education, gender, age, no matter what you believe about X, Y, or Z, your biblical interpretation, whether you see it one way or I see it another, let this be a place of love." [01:05:42] (38 seconds)

"Jesus is telling the Pharisees, the guys who know it all, they know the gospel. They can articulate the gospel. Probably better than anybody else. And he's telling them that in moments of desperation, are we more concerned with how people follow rules, or are we more concerned with them knowing that they are loved?" [01:03:02] (25 seconds)

"God sent his son to reconcile all of us back into relationship with him. And that's not just something that we get to go, you know, get baptized and say, okay, I'm good. Right, but reconciliation is an active call to all believers of Jesus to partner with him in the work of reconciliation." [01:06:45] (23 seconds)

"Let this be a place in which we are working towards unity and not division. Because I truly believe what God is doing. What Jesus is trying to say to his disciples is that the world cannot and will not know the true love of God if the people in his church don't love each other first." [01:05:42] (21 seconds)

"One of the things when I talk about love that is always hard is it's hard to love when you may not feel loved. I get that a lot. It's really hard to give when I'm struggling to give or my cup's empty. I get that. I've been there. And sometimes I think the reminder just needs to be that God loves you." [01:08:29] (26 seconds)

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