Awakening - Day 13
The Power of Love
Read John 13:34-35 and John 15:9-17
Thoughts for Today
The world will know we are followers of Jesus Christ by the love we demonstrate toward one another. Someone recently shared with me they had witnessed this reality during a trip they took to Sierra Leone (West Africa). They heard story after story of former Muslims who had come to faith in Christ. These Muslims were so radically changed by Christ, they began to act like Him and love like Him. They could not contain the good news of the gospel's power to change lives. This person met one former sheik who had helped start 100 churches in the past four years. They were able to visit one of those churches that was less than one year old and found out they already had plans to take this good news to five other villages around them.
They were told however 35 (they quit counting ) villages their Muslim leaders to ask the storytellers (church planters) to come to their villages. They saw the way people in other villages loved one another. They saw the way men treated their wives and children differently and they wanted that for their village. The love of Christ demonstrated through the lives of Christ followers is a powerful testimony and makes the gospel attractive.
In Concentric Circles of Concern, Oscar Thompson said, "love is meeting needs" (p 157). Another demonstration of love this person saw in West Africa came through ministry to the needs of people. Following the Civil War, a seed bank provided seed and farm tools to a community on the verge of starvation. Today, there is a church planting movement among the Susu people because the love of Christ opened the door. Storytellers offered to help dig wells (by hand), start schools, provide medical and dental care, provide job training, and a host of other access ministries to communities in need of the gospel. In six years, they have started over 3,000 churches and they are sending missionaries to other nations throughout Africa.
What does your love for others reveal? Would people know you are a disciple of Jesus Christ because of the sacrificial way you love?
It's Time to Pray
1. Pray that God will so fill you with His love that is will overflow to those in your circles of relationships. Pray that God will draw people to Jesus because of the love they see in your life.
2. Ask God what He wants you to do today to apply what He has revealed. What actions will you take? As you pray for the people on your list, ask the Lord to show you ways to love them.
Read John 13:34-35 and John 15:9-17
Thoughts for Today
The world will know we are followers of Jesus Christ by the love we demonstrate toward one another. Someone recently shared with me they had witnessed this reality during a trip they took to Sierra Leone (West Africa). They heard story after story of former Muslims who had come to faith in Christ. These Muslims were so radically changed by Christ, they began to act like Him and love like Him. They could not contain the good news of the gospel's power to change lives. This person met one former sheik who had helped start 100 churches in the past four years. They were able to visit one of those churches that was less than one year old and found out they already had plans to take this good news to five other villages around them.
They were told however 35 (they quit counting ) villages their Muslim leaders to ask the storytellers (church planters) to come to their villages. They saw the way people in other villages loved one another. They saw the way men treated their wives and children differently and they wanted that for their village. The love of Christ demonstrated through the lives of Christ followers is a powerful testimony and makes the gospel attractive.
In Concentric Circles of Concern, Oscar Thompson said, "love is meeting needs" (p 157). Another demonstration of love this person saw in West Africa came through ministry to the needs of people. Following the Civil War, a seed bank provided seed and farm tools to a community on the verge of starvation. Today, there is a church planting movement among the Susu people because the love of Christ opened the door. Storytellers offered to help dig wells (by hand), start schools, provide medical and dental care, provide job training, and a host of other access ministries to communities in need of the gospel. In six years, they have started over 3,000 churches and they are sending missionaries to other nations throughout Africa.
What does your love for others reveal? Would people know you are a disciple of Jesus Christ because of the sacrificial way you love?
It's Time to Pray
1. Pray that God will so fill you with His love that is will overflow to those in your circles of relationships. Pray that God will draw people to Jesus because of the love they see in your life.
2. Ask God what He wants you to do today to apply what He has revealed. What actions will you take? As you pray for the people on your list, ask the Lord to show you ways to love them.
Recent
Archive
2020
September
October
Awakening - Day 1Awakening - Day 2Awakening - Day 3Awakening - Day 4Awakening - Day 5Awakening - Day 6Awakening - Day 7Awakening - Day 8Awakening - Day 9Awakening - Day 10Awakening - Day 11Awakening - Day 12Awakening - Day 13Awakening - Day 14Awakening - Day 15Awakening - Day 16Awakening - Day 17Awakening - Day 18Awakening - Day 19Awakening - Day 20Awakening - Day 21
No Comments