One Love

By the Youth Ministries of South Florida

Is it possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason? I’ve personally experienced that the answer to this question is yes. Someone may have the best intentions, but their actions are coming from a place of pride. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul agrees that you can do the right thing for the wrong reason. He says that you can speak in the tongues of angels, prophesy all day, and have the faith to move mountains. But if you don’t do any of those things out of a love for people, you gain nothing. Those are some heavy words! 

I can’t think of a better place to end this week of study than by talking about love. As youth leaders, our goal for this plan is that you will understand on a deeper level what it means to love our cities and communities, our region, country, and world. The people in the places we live need the love of Jesus Christ. And God’s plan to reach them includes YOU! 

God wants to use the young people of our communities to change the landscape of our communities forever! But we must do it out of love for God and the people in our communities.

Ask yourself this question right now: Do I love the people where I live? Not just the people I know, but the community as a whole? Do I love the people in my school (even the bullies or the people I don’t agree with), in my neighborhood, on my sports team, etc. Do I genuinely desire for them to come to know Jesus as their Savior? Do I want to see revival in my city? 

Think about what it could look like if the love of Jesus consumed your home. Consider what could happen if Jesus changed the hearts of the people in power, of people with influence. Imagine if He transformed the lives of difficult people, of people who hurt others, of people who struggle with strongholds and addictions, and people who are confused and searching looking for answers. It starts with you! It starts with us! So, let’s go together and love our cities in the name of Jesus!