Jesus Style Leadership 2 - Love & HeartSample

Loving Others with God

Leadership Lesson

God’s love flows through Jesus-style leaders to those they influence.

Read 1 John 4:7–12.

Comment

In this letter, the Apostle John explains that love for others is one of the signs that show we belong to Jesus. Here is his reasoning: “God really loves us, and he showed this by sending Jesus to give us life, so if God lives in us, we inevitably find God’s love flowing out of us to others.” Let me make this even simpler: John says that God-loved people inevitably love people lots. That’s why Jesus said that His followers would be marked by their love for each other (John 13:35). It makes sense. The more we really know and experience God’s love, the more we will want to share this love with the people around us. As John argues, if we don’t deeply love others, it’s obvious that we don’t really know God’s love (4:8). It’s that clear-cut for John. So, if you find it difficult to love those you are seeking to influence, you either have not received God’s love or some brokenness in you is blocking His love from flowing through you. Whatever the root cause is, a lack of love is very serious. On the other hand, as we are immersed in God’s love, those we influence will see God’s love pouring through us.

Prayer

Lord, I receive your love again today. You even love me when I am weak, and when I am lonely, and when I am failing, and when I am selfish, and when I am distracted. Nothing stops you from loving me. This is the kind of love I want to offer to those whom I am seeking to influence. But I can’t do this on my own. May Your love flow through me.

Personal Reflection

Think of someone you find more difficult to love and try to understand how God feels about them. Pray for God’s love to flow through you.