Love!

For Tuesday, November 18, 2025:

John 15:12 NLT, Jesus speaking: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

Jesus didn’t issue a lot of commandments. He mainly did the right things for the right reasons, honoring God the Father and respecting his fellows. If we simply do what Jesus did – imitate his behavior – we’d all be on the right track.

Many Christians, especially those fluent in theological detail, can over-complicate things. Jesus told us to love God and love our neighbors, which was restating Old Testament principles. Nothing new there. Since Jesus took away our sins, making it possible for us to spend the hereafter in God’s presence, he told us to share this Good News with others. In fact, make them into disciples. Coach others until they’re all-in believers!

As a teenager, I told my pastor, “I think being a Christian is all about love.” He told me that it’s way more complicated than that. I still think I was right!

So be nice, be kind, be helpful, step up if you can lighten someone else’s burden. Look for the next right thing to do. I used to see little bracelets with the letters WWJD reminding us to ask, “What would Jesus do?” Still a good plan. If you do what Jesus did, you won’t be wrong!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Father + Son = One!

 For Saturday, March 25, 2023:

Matthew 11:27 NLT, Jesus speaking: “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

The Father has known Jesus since before creation began; Jesus walked on earth with us for only 33 years. So it’s logical that his Father would know him best, and that Jesus would have intimate knowledge of the Father. They want the same things, have the same goals. They’re on the same page, so to speak. Jesus once said, “I and the Father are one.”

This “Earth project” was entrusted to Jesus. He’s in charge of healing a few, teaching many and prudent enforcement of God’s laws. Forgiving the sins of those who repent is his domain. Jesus was God’s spokesperson here on earth. He re-introduced care and compassion for others. He taught us to love our neighbors by his example.

So the best way for us to live our lives is to imitate what Jesus did. As our earthly behavior-example, he’s living out the will of his Father, and his Father is our Father too! Believers are Children of God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Best Decision!

For Thursday, November 10, 2022:

John 14:23 NLT: “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’”

Jesus personally showed each of us how to live our lives. I remember a lot of bracelets, pins and stickers with the letters, “WWJD,” which stood for, “What would Jesus do?” When faced with a difficult question, just ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?,” and then do that.

The Father will be pleased with all who obey Jesus, so pleased that he will restore a New Heaven and a New Earth where everything will be perfect. On the New Earth, things will always go God’s way. Mankind had ‘free choice,’ and those on the New Earth will have chosen Jesus! Jesus told the disciples, “We will come and make our home with each of them.” “We” is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Obedience to Jesus is the best decision you’ll ever make!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Jesus-like!

For Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Romans 8:29 TLB: “From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be Supreme - the First - with many brothers and sisters.”

See? God had a plan for you from the beginning! And since we claim Jesus as our Savior and have become one of God’s children, we need to act the part. And there’s no better example to follow than God’s First Son, Jesus.

I always liked the “WWJD” saying – what would Jesus do? My father taught me that when faced with a difficult question, ask yourself, “Is this good, is it right, is it fair, is it honest? Should we be doing this thing?” And to that I would add, ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

The more we can be like Jesus, the better our lives will be!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406