Acting Through the Love of God

After the 9/11 attacks and other recent terrorist threats, Americans, including Christians, have become increasingly fearful of the Islamic religion. As a result, there is heightened security at airports, war in Afghanistan, books about Islam, disagreements on the wisdom of having a Mosque near Ground Zero, and a pastor threatening to burn several Qur’ans. People are afraid to trust any Muslim …

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Subject: Acting Through the Love of God Sat May 07, 2011 4:17 am

Acting Through the Love of God

10. Read: Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Matthew 5:38-48, and Galatians 5:13-15. Who are we called to love? Of those mentioned, who are easiest for you to love? Why?

11. However, God has called us not to love just those who are easy to love. He has called us to love our enemies as well. Let’s look deeper at Matthew 5:38-48 as well as Luke 6:27-38. As you read through these passages, write in one column the world’s views and actions on treating others. In another column, write down how our love is to stand out in contrast to the world’s.

12. From these passages, why is it so important for us to love our enemies? How can we love Muslims—especially those who commit hateful actions and persecute our fellow Christians?

13. What does God promise for this kind of love? What do you think are some other results of loving our enemies?

14. There are many biblical examples of acting in love. Read Micah 6:8, 1 Corinthians 16:14, Ephesians 4:2, 5:1-2, Hebrews 10:24, and 1 John 3:18-19. List examples of how we are to show love toward others. Which of these are hardest for you to demonstrate? How can you grow in these areas?

15. There are a variety of practical ways you can demonstrate love to Muslims. Please refer to “Appendix 3: The Next Step” which contains a list of ideas to help you get started. The ideas range from loving Muslims you don’t personally know to loving a Muslim co-worker or neighbor. Brainstorm yourself to come up with additional ways you can express love toward Muslims. Take it even further and think of how you can help spur others on to love Muslims as well.

In this study we learn about God’s amazing love for us. He loved us from the beginning—even while we were still sinful and evil. He even laid down his life for us! He shows no partiality. Remembering this ought to lead us to have the same love for others—including our enemies. And our love needs to be shown through our actions (not just lip service!). By this, the world will know we are followers of Christ! For more on this topic, check out “For Further Ponderings—Putting Fear and Love Together.”

Let’s move on to a few character studies from the Bible to learn more about the fear of God and loving others. Our first study is on the prophet Jonah, full of applications for Christians today regarding non-believers—including Muslims.