I missed last week because I was on a much needed break.
Thank you to those who noticed and who read this blog.
For June 2 John 17:20-26
It is unity that God wants - with us and us with one another.
Jesus' work was toward unity with God and one another.
The whole point of Agape Love is that it draws us together in compassion and empathy,
demands that we get past just concern for self and open up to the other, be receptive to the other,
join with the other, find solidarity with the other - both our sisters and brothers and God.
That is Jesus' command in Agape Love - that we strive to be one with God and/by being one with
each other.
So, what are we doing in active commitment for the other(s) (Agape Love) to promote UNITY with
one another and UNITY with God and one another?
And the Holy Spirit? (June 9) John 14:8-27
The Holy Spirit leads, guides, drives us to Jesus and Jesus' Way.
If we love God. If we love Jesus. If we love the Spirit, we will keep Jesus' commandment to live
this Agape Love with God and neighbor, who Jesus defines as stranger, enemy and the most
vulnerable among us. (Luke 10:25-37)
Beyond any consideration of purity or holiness, personal salvation, praise, worship or tithing,
clearly what Jesus wants is that we keep His commandments around the living of Agape Love
with God and neighbor.
So, are you being led by the Holy Spirit of God to follow Jesus' Way of being children of God in
this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?
Are you open to the teaching and reminding of the Holy Spirit regarding what Jesus said to you?
Are you receptive to being led, guided and driven to learn what Jesus taught, heed what Jesus
commanded and follow what Jesus modeled for you as what God wants of you in your life?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the guidance given by the Spirit toward the edification of God
and neighbor, or do you just seek the gifts of the Spirit for your own glory and praise among
folk who glorify in their own edification?
Do you heed the call of the Gospel of Jesus as nudged, driven, admonished, exhorted to do by the
Spirit or just confess belief in the Spirit and ignore the "still small voice" and pronounced
messages given by the Spirit?
Do you love Jesus? So you are living what Jesus commanded in Agape Love?
The one thing that I always come back to is that THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS RELENTLESS.
God will not stop putting the messages, opportunities and possibilities before you so that you may
love Jesus by living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for you. Agape Love is not a
feeling. It is committed action. What are you DOING to follow Jesus in this part of God's
Kingdom, here and now? Is it consistent with what JESUS taught, commanded and modeled?
Come, Holy Spirit. Use the still, small voice. Use the Word. Use a tap on the shoulder, a 2x4 or a
sledge hammer, but come, move, guide, drive me to live what Jesus taught, commanded and
modeled for me to live so that I may love God and my neighbors as myself. Come, Holy Spirit,
come.
Pastor Jamie
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