Get into MOTION!

Reset – to set again or anew; to restart (normally from the beginning) “…what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah [Jesus] gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG   If you had the opportunity to do something all over again, what things would you do differently?

Remember! It’s Never too Late to become all that We were Created for Deeper Connections with Others = Greater Fulfillment in Life James 5:16 NLT Loving God and Loving People Go Hand in Hand. 1 John 4:20, 21 MSG In John 13:1 – 17 when Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, He illustrated the indispensable need for humility and love when relating to others. Humility is lowering ourselves in our own estimation in order to raise people’s estimation of themselves. It’s not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less. Just because We can Look the Part doesn’t Mean We’re Reflecting HIS Heart. Eliminate the Blind Spots – character deficiencies that we are either oblivious to or that we have ignored for so long there’s no sense of urgency to correct them. 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT Strengthen our character by committing to displaying the fruit of the Spirit in life; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance. Galatians 5:22, 23 NKJV Ask God to point out anything in our lives that may be offensive, to expose any blind spots and to give us strength to honestly confront them and the determination to transform into His character. Psalm 139:23, 24 NLT

Believing in God is NOT Enough! …faith without works is dead. You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear. Do you not see, O foolish man, that faith without works is of no use? James 2:17, 19-20 BBE   Love for God is not a substitute for love for people. One demands the other. Don’t get stuck in a vertical relationship that you’re not developing any horizontal relationships.

Love for God is Proven by our Love for Others “If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.” 1 John 4:20-21 MSG   The actions we take are not to be just focused on our self-improvement & fulfillment, but the improvement and fulfillment of others.

Religious Self-Absorption is Offensive   Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV) Love (agape) – is an unchanging commitment that gives itself to another, demanding nothing in return. It’s unconditional, other people focused, forgiving and it is never withdrawn, retracted or eliminated.

Crawford Paraphrase: 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3 V1 If I be fluent in extensive human languages and even possess the ability to dialogue with angelic beings, but I don’t demonstrate God’s unconditional giving love, I’m like the annoying ringing of an alarm clock that’s never turned off.

Crawford Paraphrase: 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3 V2 If I speak God’s Word with captivating power and authority and I have spiritual insights like no one else and massive faith and trust that when I say to a mountain “jump”, it jumps, but I don’t demonstrate God’s other people oriented, constantly forgiving love, I’m like a game disc for a Nintendo Game Cube that came out in 2001.

Crawford Paraphrase: 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3 V3 Or if I do a huge philanthropic endeavor for all to see like give all my money away to the poor or sacrifice my life to be beaten, imprisoned or killed for a noble cause, but I don’t demonstrate God’s service to others, all in, consistent love, it’s like I’ve gained a 1990’s Palm Pilot organizer.

How to Recognize Love in a Movie Theatre (or anywhere else for that matter)   “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. [Love] It does not demand its own way. [Love] It is not irritable, and [Love] it keeps no record of being wronged. [Love] It does not rejoice about injustice but [Love] rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, [Love] never loses faith, [Love] is always hopeful, and [Love] endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

Get into MOTION!