One HeartSample

One Heart for People

Loving people is part of our identity as believers, because God is love.

John 13:34-35  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Our testimony is tied to our love for one another. John uses strong terms in 1 John 4:11-12 about the inseparable relationship between the love we have for God and the love we have for each other:

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Forgiveness is more than a response; it is an expression of Christ’s life in us, an expression of the grace we have received. We all have the capacity, through Christ in us, to have compassion in this way.

1 John 3: 17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Love pays the price!  When you have received God’s love first, you will become aware of others and their situations.

Reflect

• How can you love with your actions this week?
• Is there someone that you need to forgive?

Prayer

• Pray that the Church would be a loving community – showing compassion and kindness towards each other.
• Pray that we would love in actions – sharing what we have with those in need.