Tuesday, October 1, 2013

October 2, 2013

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."  Matthew 22:36-39

Two major footings in the foundation of the Faith and the Church are the Great Commission and the Scripture above, the Great Commandment.

While they are two separate significant statements of Jesus, they are really inseparable.

The Great Commission is the "what" - "go into all the world and make disciples" while the Great Commandment is the "why" - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" and "Love your neighbor as yourself".

Put those two truths together and you realize evangelism is the mission for the Church and every member of it and love is the motivation for evangelism. 

FredWes then, exists to accomplish the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment.

That is a catchy slogan but how do we accomplish it?

The answer is found in taking this same concept a step further. Love is not just the mission and the motivation but I believe it is the "MEANS" as well!

I witness because I love God and because I want people I love to love God. I also witness BY demonstrating the love of God toward them!

That is the rationale behind our three step "Each One Reach One" strategy of: (1) Prayer; (2) Care; and (3) Share.

What is more loving than praying for someone? It is especially loving when you are interceding for their salvation.

What is more loving than caring for someone? When I spend time with someone that shows I care. When I meet needs for someone that shows I care. When I care about what they care about that demonstrates my love.

What is more loving than sharing the Good News of the Gospel with someone who has never know the joy of salvation?

Love expressed in those three ways faithfully over time becomes a powerful, almost irresistible force!

What I have described in this post is exactly what I meant when I modified our motto to "Loving you to life!"

At FredWes we want to love people to life - eternal life and abundant life in Christ! We want to do it by praying for their salvation on a regular basis. And we want to do it by caring for the person we are praying for. As a result of faithfully praying and caring God will give you an opportunity to share how they can know Jesus, too!

I was loved into life with Christ.

I have loved others into life with Christ.

Who are you loving to life?