Jesus, I Want to Love You Part 1Sample

HIS HOLY PERSPECTIVE

In this plan, we will look to Jesus to teach us about righteousness from His holy perspective so that we might come to love Him more. We will listen to His own words in the Sermon on the Mount, our first focus being His fulfillment of the law.

God gave the law to lovingly guide and instruct His people. But it wasn’t long before the people took the law and twisted it into something that only brought death and destruction. The law given in the Old Testament became so contorted and twisted by the religious leaders that what was taught choked the truth and life right out of it. The “religious” took God’s law and added a list of man-made rules and regulations, something which resembled more of a straight jacket than real righteousness.

But Jesus came for the express purpose of fulfilling the true intent of the Law so that true righteousness would be available to all. This ultimately would entail the end of the Mosaic Code—the Old Testament law—once everything was accomplished by Christ, but also the establishment of God's righteousness for all those who believe in Jesus (Rom. 10:4). Jesus fulfilled the law.

PRAISE HIM

Begin first by praising God for sending His Son, the Living Word. It is always best to begin our time with Him by focusing our heart and mind upon Him. Let us take our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances and fix them on Him. Praise Him for who He is and for His Word. Use the psalms as inspiration this week (e.g. Ps. 96-103).

ADMIT YOUR SIN

Now open your heart up before the Lord. What are some of the things you crave more than Him or that keep you from fully surrendering everything to Him? O Lord, I admit that I . . .

THANK HIM

Now thank Him for always being ready to hear your cry, come to your aid, and forgive your sin. Thank you, Lord, for…

ASK HIM

Ask Him now, in faith, without holding back. If you need to ask Him for the faith to believe, do so. Ask Him to change your desires and to love Him more than life itself.