The aim of the believer’s practices of piety and the aim of everything we are called to do is twofold or it is wrong. The aim is that we are to become those who love God and those who love others. The kingdom vision of Jesus is a kingdom filled up with people who are noted by one word: love.
Scot McKnight, “One Life”
So how do we, imperfect sinners, love others?
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to recognize every person’s unique God-made design and base our relationships on love and respect for others. We need to start with ourselves and our relationship to God by:
- Continually practicing honest self-examination.
- Coming before God daily with our gifts, knowledge, and abilities.
- Being sensitive to the hearts of those God puts in our paths.
- Knowing ourselves, our limitations, and the boundaries that God puts on us.
We are called to serve, to be quick to recognize our own sins, to be honest with ourselves and with God, and to always be clay in his hands—moldable into his design. We can only live with the Mindset of God if we are in close relationship with him. And he invites us in.
This simple drawing represents God as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although the word “Trinity” isn’t used in the Bible, God gives us a clear picture of Himself as a relational being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who is never alone in all of eternity. He is One God in three personages who are united in fellowship with each other. Mark 1:9-12 reveals the intimacy, identity, and belonging of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And through Jesus Christ, we are invited to be a part of the family circle.
The kind of love that God has for humanity comes from the Greek word agapēo and means “an unconditional love that wills to live for the good of another.”
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17, NLT)
Jesus’ prayer in John 15 illustrates the love and connection of the Trinity and how all believers are invited to dwell and remain in the Circle of Love (John 15:9-10), so that God’s people may be one as we are one (John 15:2-24).
So, enter the Circle of Love and become like the Triune God—belong to each other, be one as our God is one, refuse to live our lives alone, and intentionally invite others into the wonder of this Circle of Love. Living in this way enables us to flourish and to reveal the goodness of the Kingdom of God to all those living on earth with us. He promises to supply all we need.
Our understanding of God is the most important thing about us. Is God trustworthy? Does my image of God instill confidence and hope? Am I seen, heard, felt, and loved by God? When we realize we can’t be separated from God (Romans 8:38-39), that we are chosen, loved, called, and adopted into His family (Ephesians 1:3-5), it changes how we think, how we live, and who we are—we become Jesus-minded (Philippians 2).
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, MSG
Kathleen S Evenhouse 
Well done Kathie!!
Sent from my iPhone
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