LOVING OTHERS
1 John 3:14-20
If you knew that Jesus was coming back tomorrow, what would you do different? Would you change how you live? If so what? Is there someone that you would repay? What would you do? This was asked to a Clear Creek class. One student said that he would immediately go home and witness to his lost friend. Another said that he would make amends with someone that he had had a falling out with. And one said that he would pay a debt that he owed. This sort of conversation continued. Finally one student was asked what he would do. His response has help establish the way I live. Here is what he said, “I wouldn’t do anything differently. This is where Jesus wants me. This is what He has required me to do. I want to be found faithful!” Are you doing what Jesus has asked you to do? What if He returned today? Would you be found faithful?
Another response is similar. A pastor friend took his wife’s grandmother to a Broadway play. It was very well performed. At the end he asked the grandmother how she liked it. He was expecting a positive response. She tried to be respectful. She said, “Well, it was alright.” His response was, “Alright. What was wrong with it?” The grandmother replied, “Well you see, I didn’t mind the play. But all I could think about was is this where I want to be when Jesus returns.” She went on to say, “I want to be found faithfully praying or sharing the love of Christ to others.”
WOW-
What is it in your life that you are doing that Christ has not asked you to do? What should you be doing? How do you want to be found when He returns? What do you want to be doing when He returns?
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 Jn 3
PRAY
How can I love my others? ASK YOURSELF:
1ST- AM I GOOD SOIL? DON’T ASSUME THAT YOU ARE GOOD SOIL.
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
Understand, we all have people that we don’t like, or may not get along with; this is not who this passage is talking about. We all have personality conflicts! This passage is referring to that person that you would like to never see again. You hate! If you have hate, don’t assume that you are good ground. Listen to this parable.
Jesus told a parable, “"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear." Mt 13
Three out of four are not! Is your life too busy? Good sign that you are not good soil. Is your life filled with worry? Good sign that you are not good soil. Are you receptive to hearing God speak? Honestly? Is your heart hard toward Him? Does hearing from God scare you because you are concerned about the changes you might have to make? If you answered yes to any of these- good chance that your life is not good soil!
Honestly, too many folks this day and time think they are getting to heaven because they are better at behaving than their neighbor! Your neighbor is not who you should compare yourself too! Jesus is our standard. His ways are much higher than ours. We need to face the hard-core facts. Most of us are not good ground! Most of us are like Cain who hates his brother, and killed him.
Your first step is confession. Recognizing that you are not good soil and ask God to heal you! Notice- it’s not your job to plant the seed, grow, water the ground, fertilize, or anything! Our job is to receive God’s word- to believe it- to LIVE it!
2ND- AM I GOOD AT GIVING? WE SHOW COMPASSION BY GIVING.
Do you know anyone with a need? Do you provide for the needy? Or do you justify your non-Christ like actions with excuses such as, “They are only using me.” Or “They don’t deserve it.”
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Are you willing to give? Christ always gave. He gave all- even His life! His disciples gave. And in the end they too gave their lives! And today we are to be no different! We are to die to self- giving our lives! We water it down, but God demands us to die to our self! A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus said, “Follow the law”. The young man said I have done this from birth. Jesus said, “22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Lk 18
How compassionate you are toward others is very indicative of how compassionate you are toward God! How willing are you to give, whether they deserve it or not doesn’t matter, your willingness to give to others is indicative of how willing you are to give to God!
What is it your life that you will not give? What are you clinging to? That object could be what is keeping you from a closer relationship to God! Is Jesus God? Is He in control? Can He be trusted? Does He know what is best? Then why can’t you give it to Him? You can? Surrender today!
3rd- AM I MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS FOR JESUS? DECIDE TO MAKE THE RIGHT ACTIONS. To do the right thing. When our heart is right- we make the right decision!
18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Disney’s Philharmajic. Donald falls asleep before Mickey’s big ---. He was suppose to set up all of the band. He awakes at the sound of Mickey’s voice telling him to make sure everything was ok. The last words Mickey says is to stay away from his magic hat and wand. Well, we all know Donald. He couldn’t resist. He ends up directing the instruments into oblivion. Donald loses the hat and wand. He chases the hat on Alladin’s flying carpet, down into the deep of Ariel’s (mermaid) ocean, onto Alice and Wonderland’s table, as well as others. Donald finds himself exhausted and totally out of control. Everything is a whirlwind. Then Mickey steps in, puts on the hat, grabs the wand, and gets everything under control.
Our problem is we are like Donald. We have grabbed a hold of our life. And it’s not ours to control. Let Jesus take the wheel!
TELL YOU NEIGHBOR- Stop trying to control the uncontrollable (at least for you). Allow God to be God of your life. Surrender it to Him. Do you remember the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and getting the same results! It sort of fits here doesn’t it?
If we are going to be Christ followers we need to make decisions that reflect Jesus! (Isn’t that just common sense?) God’s words direct us to show our love for Jesus by acting like those around us are Him. Love others like they are Jesus. Listen to what happens if we don’t.
Mt 25:42… 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
The opposite is true if we do. It goes on to say that those who loved were blessed by the King!
4th- HOW IS MY HEART? CHECK YOUR HEART!
19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Would you like a lukewarm coffee? Soft drink? Water? Is your life lukewarm? Our hearts can never rest in His presence if we are lukewarm. As a matter of fact, Jesus won’t accept us. He will spew us out.
You can deceive me; you can deceive others; you can even deceive yourself; but you cannot deceive God! He knows. So why not just be honest? Why not confess your sins to Jesus right now? Why not admit that you are having a hard time loving Him? Why not admit that you are having a hard time loving others? Why not confess and ask for help? Stop hiding behind your pride! Stop living a life that is fake, or a facade. Start living the truth, and experience the truth setting you free!
Is your heart hot or cold? Jesus said that I wish that you were either hot or cold, but you are lukewarm. And because of it I will vomit you out of my mouth. Jesus would rather have you cold than lukewarm! Living lukewarm tells the world that you don’t have to change. You can still lie and be a Christian. You can still cheat; commit adultery; not live for Christ; and still be saved! If you compared your life to a non-christian, would you see a difference? Would you live your life any different if you weren’t a Christian?
It’s Jesus’ desire that you be hot for Him.
I want to let you in on a little secret- 50 years after you die you will not be remembered!!! How does that set with you? Think about it. 50 years after you die they won’t care what kind of car you drove; house you lived in; job you had. That being the case, why not do it right! Why not live with a RED-hot desire for Jesus! Let’s go out in a blaze of Glory for God!
Today, are you good ground? Are you good at giving? Do you make the right decisions? How is your heart? You see, the real question is “How is your heart?” When your heart is right, all the rest falls into place. Is your heart right today?
PRAY- Lord we confess that we are lukewarm. We confess that we cannot change. We need you to change us. Draw us near to you that we may become on fire for Jesus.
