Thursday, August 13, 2009

A little flesh on the bones

What does it mean to love one another? Jesus says we ought to love one another. Paul tells many churches in the New Testament to love each other. I got to thinking about this and wondered what it would look like if we didn't just like each other in the body of Christ, but really loved each other.

Love like the Lord loves is sacrificial, selfless, and esteems others higher than ourselves. Do we really love each other as Christians? Do we sometimes put on a good face for church and then talk badly about each other when we get home? I know I have been guilty of this, and have had to come before God in repentance.

Jesus humbled Himself, took on a fleshly body, and walked in the ways we are told to walk. He didn't just say it, but He did it. Jesus denied His power and ability to protect Himself so that we would not be held accountable for our sin by trusting in His work on the cross to save us from a debt we could not pay ourselves.

Paul sat in prison and witnessed of the love of Jesus Christ that overtook him on the road. He was blinded and Jesus told Paul what was expected of Him. He was called to give up his own life and wholeheartedly commit to what the Lord told him to do. Paul was a great example of how to love one another, and Paul regularly shows us different ways to love as Christ loved the church, sacrificing Himself for her, His bride.

In the following days, we will continue to flesh out what it looks like to love one another, serve one another, exhort, pray for, and prefer one another. I will be including letters, as I get them, from believers taking part in this challenge to live each day with eternity in mind. You will read testimonies of believers all over that have prayerfully considered how best to serve the Lord through serving their brothers and sisters.

I pray that you have a great day, but even more, that you take time today to see what God wants from you and live that out in whatever way He burdens your heart to do.

Mark

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