His presence
His people
His purpose
This month we are going to focus on Kingdom Principle 2, His People.
“But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””
Matthew 22:34-40 NLT
“…as yourself.” That’s way harder than it should be for some of us, because we don’t love ourselves very much. And, it’s hard to love others when we don’t love ourselves. It’s easy to be way too hard on others, when we are super hard on ourselves. How can I give others grace, when I cut myself zero slack? I beat myself up over every mistake, and God help the person who makes a mistake on my watch.
I think that’s why Jesus gave a new commandment.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””
John 13:34-35 NLT
Now this is still impossible naturally speaking.But with the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can do this. It isn’t a natural brotherly love, but His supernatural agape love.
It’s the kind of love we don’t have the ability to do on our own. That’s no excuse not love though, as He is also the One who empowers us to love that way. It is a love we must first receive before we can freely give it.
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 KJV
Receive His love today. Let Him love you. After, you have received His love, let that love go to those around you. Allow. The Love of God be expressed through you today.
“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
1 John 3:17-18 NLT
What is something that I can DO for someone so that they may KNOW the Love of God?
What is something I can stop doing or saying that is hurting myself, unloving towards myself? ( i.e. I’m stupid, I’m fat, I’m worthless)
Is there someone that God has placed in my path for me to love?
Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied to you in Jesus name,
Jared and Amber Doran
jareddoran 