Love One Another

Jesus stated as recorded in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Let Robertson County know that we are His by the love that we show one another. The past several months have been an encouraging and wonderful journey. We have experienced a great deal of love and warmth from the people of Springfield Baptist Church. We have watched as this love leaks out of our fellowship and into our community. We will be known by how we love.

1.     We are to love one another. Jesus stated as recorded in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” People think that I joke with folks when I say that I want to hear about disagreements. I believe that we are not here to look exactly alike but to be united by covenant to accomplish the Great Commission. We will not all agree, but will we all be able to join together and move together in love to reach our Robertson County for Jesus? We will be known by how well we accomplish our love for one another.

2.     We are to love our community. We are reminded in the Parable of the Lost Sheep the love that one is to have for those that are lost. Jesus stated as recorded in Luke 15:5, “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” To be in healthy community is one thing, but to be on mission is another. Our community sets us up to be the mission that God has called us to be. Accomplishing our mission will define and develop the character of our community. If we do not reach our community then our character will be selfish and inward focused. If we work to reach our community then our character will be giving and outward focused. I have an adage in my phone calendar that reminds me, “when the fishermen stop fishing they throw rocks.” Let us get to fishing.

3.     We are to love our Lord. Moses stated as recorded in Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heat and with all your soul and with all your might.” This is the foremost of our love. We cannot love one another nor our community without loving our Lord. When it is impossible or difficult to love, He will help us make a way to love. We love the Lord by keeping our nose in the word, our knees bent in prayer and our hands serving others.

 I believe Drew Cobb said it best when he stated, “I love your face.” I love being your pastor, I love reaching Robertson County for Jesus and cannot wait for us to grow together!