Love those Whom Love Us

The past several meeting we have discussed loving those that are hard to love. We have discussed the Stranger and the Persecutor. We gave many reasons for why we should love them and how we can love them. Next we will discuss an easier category Loving those whom love us. We will focus on Friends and family.

The 1st thing I want us to talk about today is appreciation. It is easy to forget to show appreciation. Yet it is very important. In many places in the scriptures we see people showing appreciation to others. is a record of appreciation for some one

The Scriptures Chapter 16

17 And I rejoice about the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatos, and Achaikos, for what was lacking on your part they supplied.

18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours, therefore give recognition to such ones.

This recognition would have been a thanking them and honoring them in some fashion. If one reads about the Stephanas household they had taken it upon themselves to serve the people that where delivering the gospel. Sha’ul made it a point to thank them and asked other to as well.

Think for a moment about that person you care about most. Think of how they make you feel. Several words may come to mind, trust, comfort, joy, beauty, wise, talented, and impressive are a few that come to my mind. You may have some of the same or different. What is a common thing that happens when we spend time around a person that has the qualities that we are thinking of? We begin to feel safe, we begin to let down our guard. This is especially true when they have come through for us on occasion. Every struggle they have helped us through also brings us closer together. This does not have to be in some romantic ideal it could be in some completely platonic friendship way, or it could be in a sibling bond kind of comfortable trust. What happens often times when we get comfortable around feel safe? It definitely becomes easier to just rest and if we are not careful let things slip.

Think for a moment about that person you care about most. Think of how you feel around them. Several words may come to mind, trust, comfort, joy, beauty, wise, talented, and impressive are a few that come to my mind. You may have some of the same or different. What is a common thing that happens when we spend time around a person that has the qualities that we are thinking of? We begin to feel safe, we begin to let down our guard. This is especially true when they have come through for us on occasion. Every struggle they have helped us through also brings us closer together. This does not have to be in some romantic ideal it could be in some completely platonic friendship way, or it could be in a sibling bond kind of comfortable trust. What happens often times when we get comfortable around feel safe? It definitely becomes easier to just rest and if we are not careful let things slip. Think of the person you appreciate most how do you think they would say they feel around you?

Has anyone in here ever had some one come through for them so many times that it became the method or habit? In our home the kids bring home daily reports from school. At first I would read these and sign off on them. I asked Devon to look over it for me one day when I was going to be home very late. Then I asked her to do the same the next night and the next night and now that is the regular protocol for the daily reports. It was not planned that way it just happened. I am sure everyone has something like that in their life that has happened from a friend or family member. You should tell them thank you that you see it and appreciate it.

These

That is an example of a good thing that has happened but if we are not careful we can allow this to develop around stuff that is less leaning on the other person for support and more taking advantage of the other person. Perhaps we have a person in our life we feel is taking advantage of us and perhaps it is unconsciously so or perhaps we assume that they enjoy it or do not mind and it is actually us that is taking advantage of them. What ever the assumption is, we need to thank that person and maybe even take back some of the load.

This leads us in to the next point, sharing the load. Every relationship is different. Everybody is looking for different things. This is well in good. We have each been given gifts by the spirit and we are to use these gifts to serve our heavenly father but also one another. reads:

Institute for Scripture Research, The Scriptures (South Africa: Institute for Scripture Research (Pty) Ltd, 2000), .

The Scriptures Chapter 4

10 As each one has received a gift, serve one another, as good trustees of the manifold favour of Elohim.

The Scriptures Chapter 5

13 For you, brothers, have been called to freedom, only do not use freedom as an occasion for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

14 For the entire Torah is completed in one word, in this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

Reads:

The Scriptures Chapter 5

13 For you, brothers, have been called to freedom, only do not use freedom as an occasion for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

14 For the entire Torah is completed in one word, in this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

So we are to serve those whom we love. There is also another benefit to applying this in perhaps an unexpected way.

When have been in a relationship for a long time as was mentioned we can get in to places where we have settled in to this mode of each person completing tasks. Often times we do not think that this needs to change or will change without some kind outside event. This can be especially true with adult relationships. Adolescent relationships are inherently full of change as development and growth are all that is known at that point. In the modern world we call this getting in a rut. I am sure every adult in here has gotten in a rut in their relationships at some time. I am not confining this to marriage even in our friendships and relationships with our siblings and parents or children we can get in a rut.

When have been in a relationship for a long time as was mentioned we can get in to places where we have settled in to this mode of each person completing tasks. Often times we do not think that this needs to change or will change without some kind outside event. This can be especially true with adult relationships. Adolescent relationships are inherently full of change as development and growth are all that is known at that point. As such it is more common for the settling to occur in adult relationships. In the modern world we call this getting in a rut. I am sure every adult in here has gotten in a rut in their relationships at some time. I am not confining this to marriage even in our friendships and relationships with our siblings and parents or children we can get in a rut.

When have been in a relationship for a long time as was mentioned we can get in to places where we have settled in to this mode of each person completing tasks. Often times we do not think that this needs to change or will change without some kind outside event. This can be especially true with adult relationships. Adolescent relationships are inherently full of change as development and growth are all that is known at that point. In the modern world we call this getting in a rut. I am sure every adult in here has gotten in a rut in their relationships at some time. I am not confining this to marriage even in our friendships and relationships with our siblings and parents or children we can get in a rut.

Being in a rut does not mean something bad has happened or that something is wrong. In fact many times being in a rut is a result of everything operating correctly. Many people that have gotten in a rut find the house is well, work is well, health is well, but something does not feel right. I am going to share a secret with you on how to solve a rut. Share the load. Do this by easing the burden of the other person in the relationship. For a friend this might mean just showing up with coffee for them at work, or surprising them with a fun gift. If it is your parents surprise them with a chore wash the car, cut the grass, or just do something they normally do. If it is your spouse swap responsibilities for a day or week. Just mix it up and in the process serve them. When we look for new ways to serve each other and diligently try to carry one another’s burdens we are in the spiritual level living out our faith in Yeshua. In a physical world we are bringing variety and refreshment to our relationships.

Next we have the most important thing to do. We should pray for one another to show love to each other. Prayer is an important part of our lives. Their is much written about prayer and fasting. As a congregation as we are committed to helping people connect to the Messianic Jewish community we are starting with a focus on prayer. The Didache directs us to pray 3 times a day in a general way. This would not be limited to prayer for thanks of our food or protection but in thanks of our Heavenly in general and his blessings and for help with our day. We should layer more prayer than this.

I hope and expect all of us pray for our loved ones. This prayer can take the form of silent prayers on our own but we should also try to pray openly that they know we are praying for them. Look at how Sha’ul opened many of his letters.

The Scriptures Chapter 1

4 I thank my Elohim always concerning you

Then in to the congregation in Colossus

The Scriptures Chapter 1

3 We give thanks to the Elohim and Father of our Master יהושׁע Messiah, praying always for you

Also with the Thessalonians we see he prayed for them and told them he prayed for them.

The Scriptures Chapter 3

9 For what thanks are we able to return to Elohim for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake in the presence of our Elohim,

10 night and day praying exceedingly, to see your face and make complete what is lacking in your belief?

Then again in

The Scriptures Chapter 1

11 To this end we always pray for you that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and complete all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of belief with power,

This pattern continues through out many of his writings. Sha’ul prayed for his congregations whom where his friends and spiritually his children. He also told them he prayed for them and what exactly he was praying for them about. In our society this can be some what of a strange thing to do. It should not be. We should tell our family when we pray for them and what exactly we are praying about in their regards. How powerful is it when someone tells us they have prayed for us? Share this power. Pray as a family. Pray with your friends. Pray over them. Do it openly and unashamedly. Prayer is a tool powerful enough to change the world. We can use in our relationships with others too.

Institute for Scripture Research, The Scriptures (South Africa: Institute for Scripture Research (Pty) Ltd, 2000), 2 Th 1:11.

Sometimes we need help what can I pray? How do I pray? Prayer is talking to our father. We should be respectful and direct. We should open and humble. It should be from our heart and with sincerity. The prayers that we have at Shabbat over our spouses and children are good examples of some such prayers. As we meet and as we spend time together take time to pray for each other in front of each other.

To summarize what we have looked at today loving those whom love us can be easy but we must be cautious that we are properly appreciative. The other person should know we appreciate them. We must be cautious that we are carrying their burdens too. Look for ways to help each other surprise each other in service to each other. Lastly and most importantly pray for each other openly and directly. In showing love in this way we are living out the commandment to love one another. Above that we are living out the way the Messiah Yeshua lived.