Saturday, January 21, 2017

Love Isn't An Option


A while ago Pastor Nate and I had the opportunity to speak to all of our volunteers (BTeam) for our Team Night. This is always a night that Nate and I love and look forward to. We are always overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord and the people He has brought to us with such pure, servants hearts whose desire is to lift the Name of Jesus higher.

As we were preparing yesterday afternoon for what we were going to share to the team I asked the Lord, “what’s on YOUR heart to tell them?" He then brought me to John 15:16-17 AMP:

16 "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you.

17 "This is what I command you: that you love one another.”


He starts here by saying, He chose us before we ever chose Him….what love the Father has for us! Then, He goes on to say, He planted us! This means He chose us, and then planted us where He saw fit in the body of Christ. He summarizes these points in verse 17 by commanding us to love one another.


We need to remember 3 things:

1. We are loved and chosen by Jesus. Even before we chose Him, He loved us and chose us!
2. He planted us. He chose a specific place for us in a local church. In that place (church body) we are to stay planted.
3. Love one another. Verse 17 isn’t an option. It’s a command. Jesus is telling us we MUST love one another.

From choosing to obey and do these 3 things we will bear much fruit and we will continue to keep on bearing fruit. The good thing about a fruit bearing tree is that not only is that tree fulfilling it’s purpose or doing what it was created to do, but it is also blessing others and causing them to “taste and see that God is good!”

Today, thank the Lord for the local church that He has called you to. STAY PLANTED where He has placed you. Thank the Lord for those relationships He has put in your life. Choose to love them and the gift and treasure that they are.

Choose love. Is what your about to do choosing love? Is what your Facebook post says showing love to someone else who reads it? Today, remember that you are either building up or tearing down. Today, choose love.

No comments:

Post a Comment