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REVIEW: Last week we learned that Loving God is the greatest thing we can do.  Deuteronomy 6:4-5 If we truly love God with the whole of our being we will be transformed into one who loves others well, with truth guiding us, and with no hesitation to speak of Jesus’ work in us.  All that Scripture commands and teaches hangs on loving God and loving others.  Matthew 22:40

Romans 13:8-9 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

The second greatest thing you can do while on this earth is to love others.  Luke 10:25-37

• Our neighbor is not only the person next door, but it is the stranger whose need you can meet.
  
  
• Love can be quite an inconvenience, but when fully spurned on by love for God it keeps going forward despite challenges.
  
  
• This becomes really challenging when your neighbor is your adversary. Luke 6:27-36
  • Blessing in response to the curse. (28)
  • Retaliation is withheld. (29)
  • Love born of God does not select recipients based on “like for them” or reciprocation of kindness. (32)
  • Do good to them not just avoid. (35)
  • CONSIDER JESUS on the CROSS in his love for his adversaries.

This seems impossible!

Loving like Jesus can only happen by the Spirit.  1 John 4:7-21

• People who love radically like this are born of God. (7)
  
  
• You cannot claim to know God if radical love is not a growing part of how your life is defined. (8)
  
  
• God reveals this radical love to us through Jesus. (9-10)
  
  
• Our radical love for God paid forward through us towards others is how God reveals that love today. (12)
  
  
• This is a work of His Spirit who births us anew! (13)
  
  
• His love for us compels us to love others. (19-21)

The process of Gods love changing you and others through you.

1. You must be born again to receive his Spirit.
   
   
2. The Spirit will arouse your love for God and for what He loves—righteousness and people.
   
   
3. Loving people by His Spirit will make the invisible God visible to those who need to be born again.
   
   
4. Loving people such as the difficult friend, the stranger, or the adversary becomes possible by the power of God’s Spirit in you.

Failing to love those where there is hurt between you and them can hinder your worship.  We are called to at least do our part in creating bridges of peace. Consider approaching God this week with direction on what you can do to show love to them before coming to worship next week.  Matthew 5:23-24

Benediction:

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”