Series: Thirty Days to Live / Message #4 (final message in series)
Sermon: Fighting For Peace / Mark 12:28-31
Scott Howard
"Lord remind me of how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, that my life is literally fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my entire hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you. Human existence is but a breath." ---Psalm 39:4-5
Sermon text:
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?'
'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.'" ---Mark 12:28-31
- Life is all about Relationships----we were designed to connect with others.
Make every effort in Greek is spoud'azontes = to strive eagerly, and to strive earnestly.
This basically means we are told to fight for peace. Don't run from conflict, the time to fight for peace is now, our time on earth is too short to put it off any longer. So in order to keep peace with others we must:
1. Confront Humbly
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister as something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." ---Matthew 5:23-24
When we mend our human relationships we are able to have a closer relationehip with God.
Do remember: Confrontation precedes the Healing. But confront out of love and humility, not out of arrogance or spite.
Who may you need to confront?
2. Love Deeply
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." ---1 Peter 4:8
Above all your wants, your selfish needs, above your own thoughts of what is deserved or undeserved...Above All!
The word deeply in Greek is Ekteino = to stretch or to extend.
In order to love others above all, we must stretch or extend our love beyond our comfort zone.
Who do you need to love more?
3. Forgive Irrationally
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another."
---Colossians 3:13
Jesus has that supernatural love for us to cover over our sins, and makes it possible for us to extend that same supernatural love to others.
The Bible tells us to "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Also, that we should forgive 70 x 7 times, so over and over again. I recently saw a church sign that read, "Unforgiveness is an insult to God's unconditional love for you."
Who do you need to forgive? or Who needs to forgive you?
No comments:
Post a Comment