Love = Action!

For Thursday, May 11, 2023:

1 John 3:18 NLT: “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

Jesus and now the disciples persist in teaching Jesus’ new command – to love one another as he loved us! The concept was not commonplace back then, but the disciples had experienced the love of Jesus as they traveled with him and listened to his teaching. It had been very refreshing living that way, it’s what Jesus said to do, so now they’re out to tell everybody!

It’s said that actions speak louder than words. John writes that loving our brothers and sisters requires more than just agreeing with the concept. We need to put that principle into action, just like Jesus did. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us!

Loving your neighbor requires action!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Love One Another!

For Thursday, May 4, 2023:

1 John 3:11 NLT: “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”

This basic heavenly message has not changed, and I see no sign of it ever changing. From the beginning of creation, God has commanded that we be kind, that we play nicely with others, that we show compassion for the needy and care for our neighbors as much as we care for ourselves! Frankly, mankind hasn’t been very good at this. Considering Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden and the Cain vs Abel incident, the train was going off the tracks right from the get-go!

Believers need to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. Mankind needs to reorient our thinking, our value system, to be in alignment with our Lord. When Jesus said – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – He was speaking of how we should treat one another.

That we show love to our brothers and sisters matters to God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Psalms 105 - God's Covenant

Aug. 14, 2017 Monday Message:

“The Lord our God remembers his covenant forever.” Psalms 105:8a NKJV

There are 43 places in the Bible where God says similar words: “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

This is God’s covenant, first with the Hebrew people, and then with the followers of Jesus, who added, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Just so you understand, a covenant is an irrevocable perpetual promise. As humans in a sinful world, we sometimes neglect our half of the covenant. Fortunately, God never forgets his promise. God is like a rock, like an anchor. God is the same yesterday and today, and we can count on him remaining true to his covenant tomorrow as well.

If we look outside the church, we can see that many humans haven’t held up their end of the covenant. They don’t behave as God’s people should. This past weekend saw violent confrontations in Charlottesville, VA, over a civil war statue, a white supremacy protest, protesters against that protest, and ultimately the death of a young woman, Heather D. Heyer, 32. None of that is the way God wants people to live.

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.” Yes, Jesus is the answer our nation needs – love, tolerance, patience and understanding are better answers than prejudice, hatred and violence. The more people we tell about Jesus, the better chance that we can swing the pendulum in a more positive direction.

Perhaps you could bring someone with you to church next weekend. Our God could be their God too, and they could become one of his people.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. The Pharisees complained that Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors. We’ll visit Matthew’s party this week, and see the assortment of people who came to hear the words of the teacher who loved everyone. See you at church!

April Monday:

Jesus: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35 Let’s look at this in two parts.

Part 1: God’s command to love is nothing new. But the specific word used here implies a freshness, a new and different approach to the old law. The Old Testament taught that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. But the fresh approach Jesus taught was that we should love our neighbors more than we love ourselves, better than we love ourselves. Jesus took the love of our fellows over the top! The command wasn’t new, but the EXTENT was fresh and new.

Part 2: While riding with a musician, we passed a music store advertising Fender guitars. The reversed “F” of the Fender logo is quite distinctive, and he commented, “What a great logo—I’d know it anywhere!”

Groups of people often adopt a logo, a sign or a flag, so that when anyone sees that sign, they’ll know it points to a specific group and the principles for which that group stands. Christ’s followers wanted such an image, a sign they could place on buildings or possessions, something to carry with them. Of course the danger here is that when you adopt an image that represents God, people will begin to bow to the image. Hebrew law forbids making any kind of image that represents God for just such a reason.

Instead, Jesus gave them a new, fresh way. He planned for the new community of believers to grow by attraction. When people saw how much everyone in the new community loved and cared for one another, they would want to be a part of it. From that love, everyone would then learn about Jesus, His sacrifice for our forgiveness, and His promise of eternal life. When people saw this love, you wouldn’t have to talk them into joining. In fact, it would be hard to keep them away!

They will know we are Christians by our love!

Norton Lawellin

Extra credit:

Part 3: How curious it is that nowadays the Christian logo is a cross, a cruel means of Roman execution. That people bow down to this instrument of torture is at best confusing, and at worst absurd. I know, people will tell you that the cross points to Jesus, but just think about it for a minute and let me know—there are churches without crosses…

Part 4: When people visit your church, do they experience the love of an Acts 2 community, or do they see separation, bickering and infighting? How is your church doing? Is it growing or declining? You can’t fake the kind of love taught by Jesus—only the real thing shines as the light of the world!