Love One Another Series

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

1PE 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 1PE 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER….

WHY?

1) Because we are family…

We all know that we let family do things that no one else would get away with.

After a very difficult day at the office, a psychologist walked through his front door and said, "Honey, I’ve had a terrible day. All I did was listen to one problem after another. So, please, don’t tell me about any more problems. Talk to me, but just give me the good news." The wife quickly restrategized and said, "O.K. The good news is . . . two of our three children didn’t break an arm today."

· Rotarian, April 1993, p. 64

Kids make great parrots--especially when you don’t want them to repeat what you say. One father learned the hard way when he invited his boss over for dinner. He was hoping to score a few extra points with his superior but ended up losing it all when his young son asked the boss, "Where are your cards? Dad says you’re not playing with a full deck."

* Parade, March 10, 1991, p. 11

As a family, we put with each other more than non-faimly

We should love each other because we are family and choose to tolerate more from our family than we would other people.

2) Because we are born again…

There are two ways to look at this reason.

We should love people because Jesus loves us and all people

1JN 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

When we realize how much God loves us, how could we not love others?

It’s what Jesus would do

3) Because we are all going to die

That death is as sure as taxes

Has received wide recognition,

But death has this advantage-

It’s a one-time proposition.

Secretary’s dilemma: "Since I’ve used all my sick days . . . I’m calling in dead!"

We are all on the same page. We will all experience a very similar end….we’re going to die.

When it is all said and done, no one else is better or worse than I am, because we will die.

HOW?

1) With our words Eph. 4 29

EPH 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

What we say to people – encourage them

What we say about people – Don’t gossip

What we say for people – taking the other persons side

2) With our actions (deeds)

MT 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

3) With our heart (when your heart is right you will love) Investment principle.

We have to invest in each other!

Be kind to everybody. You never know who might show up on the jury at your trial.

We should love each other!