Category: Uncategorized

Intro: July 27th
A great relationship can be one of the greatest joys of life. Jesus set such a godly example relationally for us by loving everyone he came in contact with. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. From the account of the woman caught in adultery in John 8, we see a picture of forgiveness and reconciliation even in front of religious rulers who were trying to trap Jesus. As fellow travelers on this authentic relationship journey, we can make it to the finish line, as teammates and not adversaries. Here is your daily eword.

Receiving forgiveness, feeling acceptance, and having someone who bears your burdens is like having a soft place to fall. When we receive forgive, we say we won’t let a situation have a hold on to us anymore. When we offer forgiveness, we are humbling ourselves to accept responsibility for the wrongs we have done. When we accept people as they are, we are agreeing with God who does the very same thing. What a wonderful thing Jesus did for the woman caught in adultery. He had the opportunity to cast a stone at her, and he chose not to. Instead he offered her forgiveness, acceptance and told her to go on her way, and sin no more. When she received that kind of love, even in the midst of moral failure, this woman was given hope. When we respond in grace and mercy instead of judgment, we do the same thing. We have the opportunity to love people through the broken places of their lives. If they are already broken, they don’t need more judgment, they need love. Remember that God is the healer of all things broken. We can do the same as we are his hands and feet to a broken hurting world. It may even start in your own home. What a great place to offer forgiveness and acceptance.

How old is your longest relationship? Your mom probably qualifies, she knew you first, and might even love you best. I love my mom so much. She turns 82 this week! She has known me all my 53 years. So maybe I should ask, whom besides your family have you had the longest relationship with? Is it friends from kindergarten, elementary school, or junior high or high school? You have probably seen that some friendships are life long, and others for a season. Of your lifelong relationships, you have probably noticed that keeping them Jesus centered, keeps them thriving. When selfishness erupts its ugly head, relationships suffer. So when we decide to love one another is any relationship whether long term or for a season, selflessness can make relationship flow more smoothly. When we decide to prefer one another, and forgive one another, relationships will become all that God intended. So start loving one another more fervently, and have thriving authentic relationships that bring you joy, and reveal the kingdom of God, here on earth.

I love this quote from the book called “Authentic Relationships”. “A self centered life is its own punishment.” When we expect and demand things from others, we miss out on the very best life we can experience in Christ. We miss out on the blessing of God when we live selfishly. Jesus taught us that a selfless life is its own reward! When we live selflessly, we experience the joy of showing God’s love authentically. We experience the best of God’s blessings in this life. His favor, His abundance naturally flows to those who give of themselves on a regular basis. So this is a pretty easy formula to follow.
Live selfishly, and miss out on the best of life, or live selflessly and receive the best life has to offer. It reminds me of the scripture in Deuteronomy 30:19 that says I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore, choose life, that you and your family can live. It’s like a duh, what are you going to choose? LIFE! So back to our topic of today, you have the choice, love others selflessly and you are choosing the very best life of all. Enjoy all the rewards this joy FULL life has to offer.

Today we are going to look at the second fruit of one anothering. Yesterday we looked at number one, which is that the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples. Today we are looking at the second fruit and it is joy! God has our best interest at heart, and He desires that we are fulfilled and live in joy. John 15:11 says these things I have spoken to you that My joy may remains in you, and that your joy may be full. Isn’t it wonderful that even in a fallen world, with a curse on the earth, Jesus wants us to overcome the world and to be full of joy? I love that! As Christians, we have the opportunity to be joy FULL. I know lots of Christians who don’t experience joy FULL ness. They complain, they whine, they look at everything negatively, they scowl, they frown, and they worry. We should be doing exactly the opposite. Instead of all that negativity, let’s be thankful, let’s look for blessings, let’s keep a positive outlook, let’s smile, let’s grin, and let’s trust God. For the believer, this is as close to hell as we will ever be. We have heaven to look forward to. That alone is like an ace in the hole. If this entire fallen world goes to hell, we have a wonderful eternity to look forward to. But let’s not be happy with just making it to heaven. Let’s let the evidence of love lead others to the foot of the cross, so they can enjoy heaven with us! And let’s let the fruit of joy help those around us realize that when we love God and one another, we get to experience life at it’s best, filled with joy!

Today and tomorrow we will look at two of the fruits of one anothering. There are two main fruit that result from sincerely and authentically loving one another, and today we will look at the first one. Here is number one. When we love one another, it demonstrates the reality of God’s kingdom to those who don’t know Him yet, and cannot see Him. John 13:35 tells us that by loving one another the whole world will all know that we are disciples of Jesus. Love is the evidence and proof that we love and serve Jesus. It is from love that all the other fruit of the Spirit flow, so love is number one. If we were on trial in a court of law to prove that we are God followers, our love for one another would be primary proof that we are! We really are a city set on a hill, with a light that shines brightly. Our actions speak louder than our words ever will! Let’s not put our light under a bushel. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. I hope you let yours shine too! Those around you will have evidence that you love God. In your bigger sphere of influence, your actions will prove that you are set apart from the world, and that you serve a Great, Big, Loving God.

Maybe you are starting to think that loving one another is just another chore you have to do as a Christian. If we look at Christianity as a list of dos and don’ts, and a bunch of chores that you are required to do, you have missed the point completely. Loving one another isn’t a chore, but a joy! We GET to share in the life of God, which is what the whole captive world is looking and longing for. God can use us as an answer to their cry. At the same time, we have to realize that this life isn’t a dress rehearsal. We are not just going to act like we love others, this is the real deal, we really love people!! Sharing in the life of God, is living loved! We have been shown God’s love, His favor, and His blessing, now we get to pass it on! Our attitude in how we love is on display. Are you happy to serve, to love, to bless others? Do they see joy or duty in your actions? Love should be our motivation. We love, so we give. We love so we serve. We love because we have been loved. We live out what we have experienced from a loving God! We can do for others what has been done to us. What a privilege. Let love one another!

One of the biggest keys to beginning to love one another more fully is to remember how much less we have to think about ourselves, and how much more we need to think about others. We usually operate exactly opposite of that! Let’s switch it up. How can we begin thinking more about others than ourselves? One way is to realize that Jesus didn’t tell us to get love from each other, but to GIVE love to one another. In a getting world, we have to change our mindset. Getting is selfish…giving is selfless. It requires realizing that when we do give, we are acting like our Father who we are told to imitate, and on top of that, we are obeying the commandment of Jesus to love one another. We also put the law of sowing and reaping into motion, and when we try it, we find that living to give is the only way to live. It makes life fun when we realize we are put on the planet to be a blessing to others. Instead of putting self on the throne, we put Jesus there. When we do, we get a whole different perspective. We begin to have His heart and His eyes for others around us. Our troubles and struggles seem light and temporary, as we focus on others. It brings great freedom to our life and renews our joy as we see that we don’t live to GET love from others, we GET to love others

Welcome to week 2 of our summer study on Authentic Relationships. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. Life is nothing without relationships, and during this focused study on relationships, we are talking about practical principles of one anothering, so that our relationships can be dynamic. Here is your daily eword about loving others like Jesus loves you, as we put into practice John 13:34 which tells us to obey Jesus new commandment, to love others like Jesus loves us. We can do this!

I think you probably have seen on TV where a young mom sees her returning soldier for the first time. Their eyes meet, and they run to embrace one another. Perhaps she had a baby while he was away, and the first glimpse of his newborn child is a priceless picture. Love is a powerful emotion. I tear up every time I see that same story unfold. I love seeing an elderly couple walking hand in hand, looking each other eye to eye, with a lifetime of love expressed in one glance. The power of love is immeasurable. This week we are talking about loving others like Jesus loves you. There is nothing more powerful in our life than feeling completely loved and cherished. God has sent that kind of love to us in the person of Jesus. He loves sacrificially, completely, and eternally! Jesus gave us a new commandment in John 13:34, He tells us to love others like He loves us. Love the people around you. Love them like Jesus loves you. That is sacrificially, completely, and eternally! It sounds almost like a challenge, but loving like Jesus takes keeping our eyes and our heart open. There are people all around us who need to feel Jesus’ love through you. So take the challenge to encourage, serve, admonish, cherish, and love like Jesus loves. We can do that, one precious life at a time.

John 13:35 is such a powerful scripture. It says the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples by the love we have for one another. Amazing how often the opposite is true. Christians churches don’t like each other because they believe differently. Or they preach against another doctrine because they interpret scripture in another way. Or someone else doesn’t have as much revelation as they have. What a shame that the world has to see that. We are to be supportive and encouraging of one another. I love how every time we do communion at AGF we talk about discerning the body of Christ. That is not only the physical body of Christ that was bloodied, broken and bruised so that we could have a relationship with God, but also discerning the body of Christ worldwide. We have brothers and sisters in Christ, not only around the world, but right down the street from us. As believers in Jesus, who have given our heart and life to Christ, and have chosen to follow Him all the days of our life, we have to realize that heaven is big enough for all of us. God’s arms are opened wide. The prerequisite of heaven is to be born again. You can get to heaven sick, you can get to heaven without speaking in tongues, you can get to heaven poor, but you can’t get to heaven without Jesus. So let’s concentrate of the majors! Christians are on the same team, fighting the same enemy, and the enemy is the devil, not another church! Let’s let the world see love in us!

Family is important. I have a sign in my home that says, Families are Forever, No Matter What. Families should be tight. We should learn to get along, and to show the love of God most at home. If we look at the bond between God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit, we can see perfect unity. It should be that way in our families too. Take a moment and look outside your family. Is there someone who has had a special relationship with you other than your immediate family? What are some of the qualities you value in that person? What have you learned about friendship from that person? Can you see the love of God through that person? So often, God places people in our lives to encourage us, to help us grow, and to become more like Jesus. Sometimes they are for a season, and sometimes they are for a lifetime. It is easy to take those relationships for granted. We should value and cherish those who build in our lives. We can be that kind of friend to someone else. I heard a speaker recently begin their sermon like this: I’m so excited about what the Lord is going to do today in you. There was a humility that we can emulate. How can I be a friend to or help someone who is needing something from God. We can take that stance, I am so excited about what the Lord is going to do in my friend today. Very often you might be the avenue God’s blessings come through.