Cross Bearers Theme 2020-“WALKING IN LOVE”

What’s at the heart of Christian love? Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35)

According to Matthew’s Gospel, the very essence of the Law and the Prophets is to love God and to love others. And we see this term “the Law and the Prophets” used in one other place in Matthew’s Gospel. It’s in this passage that we find the Biblical definition for love: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

“Step by selfless step, our love to one another pleases God and exalts his name among the nations”.

Walking in love as Christ walked in love is a pace marked by ongoing, sacrificial giving unto the Lord. Such a walk is a fragrant offering to him. He inspires it, empowers it, and gets all the credit. Step by selfless step, our love to one another pleases God and exalts his name among the nations.

God is glorified when a thief’s hands become calloused by hard work so they can give. His name is exalted when a slanderous tongue lets loose in edifying words to build up others. We used to offer ourselves in worship to our idols, but now by the mercies of God we present our bodies as living sacrifices to him. 

Everything that belongs to the old self is to be cast off and discarded—sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. All of our filthy speech, foolish speech, and crude jokes must be replaced by thanksgiving. The consequences for refusing to walk in love could not serve as a more severe warning than the one Paul gives in Ephesians 5:5: “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God”.

If we want to be among those who inherit the kingdom of Christ, we will flee from the darkness we once lived in. Even as temptations assault us on both sides of the road, and a shroud of deception hangs in the air, we can by God’s Spirit resist the gravitational pull of the course of this world and enter through the narrow gate.

The only reason this is possible for us is that Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross has broken our chains. Being conformed to the image of Christ means that we are no longer bound to principles that held our hearts in sway as the world carved its image on us. At one time we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. And so it simply goes to follow that we walk as children of light and try to discern what is pleasing to him.

In the meantime, we need daily intervention because our steps can be drawn back into the shadows. Walking in love is a community project. The dark forces that attempt to weave us back into ungodly patterns of living are constantly at work in the world. Those perverse values make up a pervasive way of life.

Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)

 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

BIBLE VERSES THAT SPEAKS OF LOVE!!!

Walking in Love!!! Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an oXering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate Christ. His great love for us led him to sacrifice himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind—a love that goes beyond aVection to deñ- sacrificing service.

Matthew 5:44

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Jesus says we are to love our enemies. If you love your enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life. This is possible only for those who give themselves fully to God, because only he can deliver people from natural selfishness. We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love.

John 3:16

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Here God sets the pattern of true love, the basis for all love relationships— when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give to them freely, to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of his Son, the highest price he could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins and then offered us the new life that he had brought for us. When we share the good news with others, our love must be like Jesus—willing to give up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God’s love.

There is no greater love, than the love Jesus has for All mankind.