"Loving These People"

Letting God be God

Matthew 26:26 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:27 ESV

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,

Matthew 26:28 ESV

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:29 ESV

I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

How commands work

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Step One: Loving God

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:6 ESV

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 6:8 ESV

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:9 ESV

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Step Two: Loving One Another

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Step Three: Loving Your Neighbor

Leviticus 19:17–18 ESV

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Step Four: Loving Your Enemy

Matthew 5:43 HCSB

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

Matthew 5:44 HCSB

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

Matthew 5:45 HCSB

so that you may be sons 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.

Matthew 5:46 HCSB

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

Matthew 5:47 HCSB

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

Matthew 5:48 HCSB

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

Step Five: Managing to do it all - Letting God be God

Philippians 2:1 HCSB

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Philippians 2:2 HCSB

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

Philippians 2:3 HCSB

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Philippians 2:4 HCSB

Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5 HCSB

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

5.1 - Have the right attitude

Philippians 2:1 HCSB

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Philippians 2:2 HCSB

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

Philippians 2:3 HCSB

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Philippians 2:4 HCSB

Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5 HCSB

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:6 HCSB

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

Remember, He did it like this...

Luke 23:34 ESV

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

5.2 - Model Jesus

Ezekiel 36:24 HCSB

“For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Ezekiel 36:25 HCSB

I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

Ezekiel 36:26 HCSB

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:27 HCSB

I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.

5.3 - There is only one fix…letting God be God

John 14:15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.