Part 1 Moving Forward
C.S. Lewis: “True love is an act of the will – a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves.”
Penned Truth: Let loving God be your highest goal! And the second-highest goal is loving people- all kinds of people.
Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV) 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Dictionary of Bible Themes | Neighbors: Scripture defines the identity of neighbors in various ways, and indicates the nature and extent of believers’ obligations to them.
John 13:34–35 (ESV) 34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Penned Truth: Jesus makes it clear that this will be the primary sign identifying His Church to the world.
Luke 6:27-28 (GWT) 27 “But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (NLT) 1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (AMP) 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].
Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
1 Corinthians 13:2 (NLT) 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (NLT) 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NLT) 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[a] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Final Statement: Through examples like the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus showed that a “neighbor” also includes anyone in need, regardless of social, cultural, or religious differences, and called His followers to tangible action and mercy rather than mere words. God’s Spirit will shape us so our lives reflect more of God’s love, grace, and power. Like the disciples standing on the hillside after the resurrection, I stand here today knowing God is calling us to move forward with the power He has given us through the Holy Spirit so we can be the fullness of Jesus, His ambassadors in our world. Can we, will we move forward and Love Well? I believe it is more than possible for all of us to love people well.
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