Labor of Love

Review

Last week we learned about going the extra mile.

We were challenged to give to those in need.

Did you do it?

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Introduction

Today we are going to learn about Jesus’ standard of love.

Story regarding its importance...

Handouts

Passage

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?, Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Main Points

1) Christians must love their enemies.

Why? You were once God’s enemy. You broke His Law and are deserving of death.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Through God’s love, in sending Jesus, we who choose to follow Jesus go from being God’s enemies to His adopted children!

Since God has shown His enemies (us) His love, shouldn’t we show our enemies the same?

2) We must pray for those who do them wrong.

Why? Because that’s what Jesus did.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 23

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”

Who is your enemy? Name them.

Let’s pray for them right now.

You cannot change them; you can only change your response to them.

Ask God to soften your heart towards them so that you can show them love.

3) God’s people must be perfect because He is perfect.

How many good people are in heaven? Zero.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

There is no one righteous, not even one.

There is nothing you can do to be perfect, only God can do that.

If you choose to follow Jesus, He promises to cover us with His perfection.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

“In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

Application

The principle of this passage is...

This week I will treat my enemies with love and pray for them.