We are very different people. Look at marriage.

Ephesians 5:1-2,21-31 Do you get an idea of submitting one to another?

Submission...

Phil 2:6-8... "Taking the nature of a servant"....

Servitude - Christ and his bride.

Ephesians 5:31-33 .. he's talking about the church. God aimed marriage to give an example of the gospel.

"Imitate Christ" .. love one another. Not a concept.... It's a practice.
Jn 13:35.." love one another."

Love.. has different meanings:

Philia - philia" (φιλία- brotherly love between friends\

Eros - is ἔρως (érōs) or romantic, passionate love

Storge (στοργή - This is the Greek word for familial love, encompassing the natural affection and bond within a family.

Agape - ἀγάπη (agape), a term for a type of love often described as selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial. Unconditional, selfless love, often associated with divine love.

Agape - a decision to love..in fact commanded to us.

Matt 23:36-39
Love God. Love people... everything rides on it.

Everything.

We're called to love.

Do you know love?

I Jn 3:18 Let us not love with words or speech but with ACTIONS.

Like a parent who loves to see his kids hang out... God uses kids to reach his kids.

The Father loves to see His kids together.
God's agape love when we are together.
We're called to be the Tabernacle of God. Say yes and he fills in the gaps, we have, by his Holy Spirit.

We are called to love God, love his people and we are called to GO.

At all times.

Do we contend or transition?

Are you in a season?

Pain is not unavoidable, it's a tool God can use too.

Reconcile.

Ask Hosea. He got to marry a prostitute. Then she left him after 3 kids. Went back to her old lifestyle. He is crushed. God tells him to go and show your love to your wife again. He had to pay the highest price for her return. He searches in the darkest places... Pays the highest price, $ wise, then has to redo his vows to her again.

Agape love
A love that persues
A love that isn't led by offense
A love that is costly
A love that redeems.
He paid the highest price to get you back.

Jesus is your Hosea.
.
Receive this love

We are all broken and busted... But God will bring us to completion.

Hardship
Refining
Completion

May we be a people who don't give up on the church..

Anyone else need a hug?

Over pain, wounds, crying... Agape love.

Jesus is Love.

Jesus told:

Matthew to - " go and make disciples"
Mark to - " preach the gospel"
Luke - " you're a witness"
John to - " tend to my sheep and feed my lambs"

He tells me to write, so that I might learn, then do.

For him who has eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to do ... go for it.
😊

There's similarities between submission and laying down your life:
Both are - SACRIFICIAL.... SERVANT MINDED.... SELFLESS.... require HUMILITY... VALUE the OTHER OVER ONE'S SELF.... put PREFERENCES ASIDE to UPLIFT THE OTHER ... 👀HONOR ONE ANOTHER 👀

Phew... are we getting it now? 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏