Doing the One Anothers

I've started this series on Community Life: Getting Connected at the Vineyard and have been prepping to tackle the one anothers of the NT. I think that there are over 50 of them sprinkled throughout -- stuff like love one another, encourage one another, support one another, etc.

That's a big list from God about how we are to live in community don't you think? I don't know that we'll ever measure up to fulfilling that whole list will we, or even can we? I know that when we receive Christ into our lives we are to have the fulness of Him leading us and that we ourselves have really died to our agenda and now under His new leadership take on His agenda -- doing the one anothers (and more!)

How radical would it be to see the church do the stuff like this this? To actually see people putting these things first on their priorities and walking the talk! It would be like waking a sleeping giant! The world is crying out for the church to be the church -- to be the people of God, led by the Holy Spirit, ministering in the name of Jesus. We, as the church, should give them what they want, what the world so desperately craves! To see the church be Jesus! WOW! That would be breathtaking!

How can that happen? I met with a group from the Vineyard last night who want to invite the homeless and the poor into our building and give them food and groceries and pray for them and bless them...that's an awesome start...one of the gals felt like Jesus said to her "Use what you have" and she took that to mean let's use our building and get to helping people! Let's provide a place where people can receive the love of Jesus with none of the strings that are normally attached.

You know those strings don't you? We'll give you food if you come to church...we'll pray for you if you'll promise to straighten up...we'll be kind to you because we're in a church's building, but outside of here I'm not so sure I'll even notice you. Those types of conditional love.

But Jesus wasn't like that -- and we don't want to be either! So Lord teach us to be more like you. Change our hearts that we really could experience the love you have for others -- whether they be better off than us or worse off. Help us to realize that we are no better because your love for each of us is the same, and that you care deeply about each person. Give us that heart! Renew us each morning with that desire to show your love to one another!