This morning I got my weekly “Andy Stanley” message. His series on Christian has been excellent. He always leaves me with something to think about. It’s easy to hear a message and then walk away forgetting all that was said. Blogging about it makes it more likely to ‘stick.’
What does love require of me?
If I can get that question into my head for every single encounter in my life, I will live a more loving life.
As the series came to an end this morning, there were three suggestions he ended with. How much better the world would be if everyone lived by putting these into action in their lives.
- Do not be mastered by anything.
- Don’t do anything to hurt others.
- Don’t do anything to hurt yourself.
While not overtly spiritual, they are underscored with the most fundamental commandment in the Bible.
In the Old Testament law, commandments were abundant – 600+ of them to try and remember and obey. It is no wonder that the Pharisees wanted to know from Jesus, “which is the greatest commandment?”
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind – in doing so you will not be mastered by anything. When something does ‘master’ you, it gets you in such a vice-like grip, you cannot overcome it. It takes over your life, making you master to it. Think addiction and you will understand what is meant.
Love your neighbour as yourself. Don’t do anything to hurt others. Don’t do anything to hurt yourself.
We are valuable. Each of us. Love one another.
It’s true that our behaviour and often what we believe is influenced by one of two groups of people. Those who hurt us and those who loved us.
We don’t influence people so much by what we believe but rather how we behave.
Let us take be the ones that influence the next generation through our loving behaviour.
You can watch the whole series online here.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂