What if congregations and parishes served together so EVERY person in Chippewa County have the opportunity of being authentically loved by at least one committed follower of Jesus?
As followers of Jesus, we are to receive God’s love, respond to God’s love by loving Him and one another, and be recognized as His disciples by our love.
We were created to love. In the simplest terms, God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26) and God is love (1 John 4:8). Cognitive neuroscientist, Dr. Caroline Leaf explains in her books and conferences how human beings are “wired for love.” Science is confirming what Scripture has been telling us all along. God created us in His love and for His love. We were created for relationship with Him and with one another, so love should be our most natural behavior and is one of our most innate needs.
God never tells us to do anything that He has not equipped us to do; He loved us first (1 John 4:19), designed us in His love and for His love, He showed us His love by sending His one and only Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14 & John 3:16) and then He sends us out to share His love. John 13:35, “A new command I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love is not optional; as Jesus-followers we are created, commanded and commissioned to love.
This is called “The Great Commission.” (Matthew 28:16-20) There is a great quote that says, “The Great Commission was not just a good suggestion,” it is a command that we are to obey.
Love is who we are and we are blessed when love is expressed.