Loving God and Loving Others Scripture Reading: Romans 15:1 - 3

“We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself."

As the Scriptures say, ‘The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” We know it was our Lord Jesus Christ that told us that he who the Son sets free will be free indeed! No longer are we bound to satisfy ourselves, or try to make ourselves right with God by a perfect obedience to the law, which no one could achieve except the One who set us free by fulfilling all of the law and the prophets, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Now we have been placed on the pathway of, ‘Loving God and Loving Others’.

This freedom that we have in Christ Jesus does not give us license to do whatever we may feel free to do in the liberty that we have in the Lord, but we should also be sensitive to what our brothers and sisters in the Lord may see and then say, or even those who have yet come to know the goodness and grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Where we go, what we eat or drink, the kinds of entertainment options that we choose to be associated with, how we conduct ourselves in business and the public eye, will either bring praise to our Father in heaven, or give other people cause to insult His holy name.

To be honest not living to please ourselves even as those who have been born-again by the Spirit of Christ is a life long endeavor to daily taking up our cross and following after the lead of our living and loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It takes a lifetime commitment of loving God to actually put the needs of others before ourselves, to crucify our own selfish interests and desires, and to be willing to be a helper of all those in need that God is drawing across our pathway.

It is so much easier to find fault in a person, or even a group of people and tear that one or group down than it is to look for ways to build them up and encourage them to find a deeper and wider life in the destiny that God our Father has for them as they too find and express the gift of eternal life that is promised to everyone who will call upon the name of the Lord.

We must remember Jesus who came to show us the Father’s perfect love, even when He and his disciples were tired and looking for a time of rest – looked out upon the crowds with compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd, rose up and in the Person and power of the Holy Spirit ministered life to each and every one, even encouraged and empowered His tired disciples to do the same. This too my friends is where we will find both our greatest joys and eternal rewards! 

Prayer My Father in heaven I rejoice today in the liberty that is mine through Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. I acknowledge that my life should not be lived any more for myself, but with a regard to Your plan and purpose for my life and an eye to meeting the needs of others. I give myself once again to these ends asking You to empower me through Jesus Christ my Lord. 

Memory Verse: Romans 1:11“For I long to visit you so I can ______ you some ___________ gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.”