2025
RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD IN THE NEW YEAR.
Key Verse: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19)
This Week: 1st Month, 3rd Week - Jan 19, 2025
Theme: – Loving and Serving Others
Memory Verse: “And the second is like it, namely this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these”. - Mark 12:31
Objective: By the end of the lesson, Readers should –
1. Learn to love
2. Learn to serve others
3. Be convinced that their service is not complete without loving and serving
Content:
Introduction:
Our God is Love. If you don't love you don't know Him at all. 1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." A practicing Christian should be an embodiment of love. Love should reflect in everything we do as Christians. The ten Commandments were summarized into two by Jesus Christ. Matthew 22:37-40: “‘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.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” This reflects the essence of the Ten Commandments: love for God (Commandments 1-4) and love for others (Commandments 5-10).
At home, at work, in the community, love should be read in us. Retaliation or revenge should be avoided, for God says revenge is mine. Apostle Paul emphasised this in Romans 12:19: "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." This verse reminds believers to trust God to bring justice instead of seeking revenge themselves. It references Deuteronomy 32:35, where the same principle is emphasized.
Main Lessons:
1. Man is made in the image of God.
Since man is made in the image of God, Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." This highlights humanity's unique reflection of God's character and attributes, such as rationality, morality, creativity, and the ability to form relationships. If you agree with this, then love being an embodiment of God's nature, should be humans main attribute. Jesus when in earth preached love, acted love even to the point of death. So, as His followers, an obedient one at that, love should be written all over us.
2. Forgiveness as an act of love.
Luke 23:34: "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." This was one of Jesus' statements on the cross, showing His immense love and forgiveness even in the face of suffering and injustice.
Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” from Luke 23:34 highlight the heart of Christ’s mission: forgiveness and reconciliation.
This statement is extraordinary because:
i, Forgiveness Amid Suffering: Jesus was praying for the very people who were crucifying Him—Roman soldiers, Jewish leaders, and bystanders—demonstrating divine love and mercy.
ii, Ignorance of Sin: His words reflect compassion for their ignorance. While they knew they were crucifying Him, they didn’t fully grasp that He was the Son of God or the eternal consequences of their actions.
III, A Model for Believers: Jesus set an example for His followers, teaching that forgiveness should extend even to one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44).
This verse challenges us to rise above bitterness and forgive those who wrong us, trusting God to work in their hearts.
3. Reconciliation as an act of love.
Reconciliation as an act of love is beautifully expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19: "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
i, God's Initiative in Love: Through Christ, God initiated reconciliation, bridging the gap caused by sin to restore our relationship with Him.
ii, Our Role: Believers are called to extend this love by being agents of reconciliation—mending broken relationships and sharing the Gospel of peace.
iii, Love in Action: Reconciliation requires humility, forgiveness, and a willingness to restore harmony, which reflects God’s love for us.
Application:
As Christians we should:
1. Love God Wholeheartedly. Prioritize your relationship with God through prayer, worship, and obedience. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
2. Love One Another: Treat others with kindness, patience, and humility, even when it’s challenging. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
3. Love Your Enemies. Forgive those who hurt you, pray for them, and show them compassion. “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
4. Serve Others. Use your time, gifts, and resources to meet the needs of others. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)
5. Be Agents of Reconciliation. Promote peace, resolve conflicts, and share the Gospel of Christ’s love. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
6. Sacrificial Love: Follow Jesus’ example by putting others’ needs before your own. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
7. Love in Truth and Action: Back up your words with deeds—help the poor, comfort the hurting, and stand for justice. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
Questions: Note your questions here
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Pastor Olufemi Samuel Ogundele
(Grace Deliverance Bible Ministries.)
www.hiswordsandyou.com
e-mail – olufemi@hiswordsandyou.com
olusamdel@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +234 803 473 0895
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