Living the Great Commandment

Ephesians 4:25-32

[one_half] Tonight at 6:00 will be another gathering in the sanctuary.  Let’s come together for encouragement, a deeper conversation, and a motivating experience together.  Carve out one hour to spend with your sisters and brothers! 

The season of Lent is a wonderful time to reflect on our lives and to deepen our spiritual journey with the Lord.  It is a time to renew our relationship with God and to grow in our bonds of love with our families and friends.  It is a time of repentance, renewal, and refreshment that arrives through the blessing of forgiveness.

Within that framework, we read Ephesians 4 today.  If I may, let me direct your attention to 4:30 where the Word says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  Do not disappoint the Spirit of God by ignoring your right place in the Kingdom of God. [/one_half]

[one_half last=last] Obviously our spiritual life is not simply dependant on our relationship with God.  It is always a twofold relational experience that includes loving God and loving our neighbor as yourself.  We always go back to the Great Commandment that we would love God with heart, soul, mind and strength while loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Therefore, it is important that we stop from time to time to reflect on both sides (God and human) of our discipleship experience.  Have we allowed unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths?  Have we set aside all falsehood?  Do we engage in conversation that builds others up?  And most importantly, do we forgive just as Christ forgave us?

Compassionate relationships always include the power of forgiveness! [/one_half]