September 27, 2017 - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Day 270 - Isaiah 10-12 & Galatians 5

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:13-14 ESV) 

We who have been freed from the consequences of our sins by means of Christ’s forgiveness are called to love our neighbors by serving them. What would this kind of other-focused service look like? Paul answers that question a few verses later.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV) 

I believe that the love of Christ, and only the love of Christ, is the answer to all of the name calling and outright hatred we are bombarded with every day in the news and social media by people of all stripes. As followers of Jesus Christ, you and are I are in a unique position whereby the Lord can use us to change things one person at a time. We get to do this by reflecting these Jesus traits...

● love
● joy
● peace
● patience
● kindness
● goodness
● faithfulness
● gentleness and
● self-control!

WE’RE ALL HUMAN. WE’RE ALL BROKEN. WE ALL NEED JESUS and HIS LOVE!

1. Love in Christ is strong and living, Binding faithful hearts in one;
Love in Christ is true and giving, May His will in us be done.

2. Love is patient and forbearing, 
   Clothed in Christ’s humility,
  Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring, 
   Reaching out in charity.

3. Love in Christ abides forever, Fainting not when ills attend;
Love, forgiving and forgiven, Shall endure until life’s end.
(“Love in Christ Is Strong and Living,” Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006, #706) 

Heavenly Father, please have mercy on our hate-filled world. Please use those who bear Your name to reach out to our neighbors in our communities, nation and around the world with the life-changing and soul-saving love of Jesus Christ. In His holy name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf