Week eleven of Cultivate Delight, where we are actively planning our spiritual endeavors this coming week with the goal of a consistent time spent engaging our hearts with Christ in his word, in prayer, in reflection, and in music. Below are some starting points for reflection, and I hope you find them helpful. The goal is to not just rush through these and then get on with your day. Take your time and reflect throughout the week on these items.
This week we are focusing on the law of God by reflecting on the command to Love One Another!
Bible Reading
Liturgy – New City Catechism
Question 11: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?
Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love. Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them. Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.
Romans 13:9
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Prayer
Holy and righteous Lord God Almighty. The whole of the law can be summed up with two simple statements: Love God and Love People. Your word tells us to be holy just as you are holy. In that holiness there is a deep wellspring of love. A love for your creation and all peoples everywhere. You have commanded us to not only love our neighbor but to love one another. Your love for people is our standard. The life of Christ is our model. The Savior who left heaven to take on flesh and walk among his creation. To become a servant to all. This one loved all people all the time. This is the mark of his heart and so to should it mark our hearts. Forgive us when we make this life all about us. When we live in complete self-righteousness, seeking to only love ourselves. Fill us with your Spirit. Fill us with your love. Let this love overflow in our hearts and spill out onto everyone we meet. That after spending time with us, every person will walk away having encountered the love of Christ for them. Teach us humility and a complete dependence upon Christ for every breathe we take. Bringing thanksgiving and praise to our great God and Redeemer.
Worship
Love One Another
Love
Love
Love
Yeah, we don’t always live what we believe
Yeah, we don’t always share a common source
Here we are, now shoutin’ ’til we’re hoarse
Jesus taught us a different kind of discourse
Don’t talk about it, talk about it
Just do it
Love one another
Sister and brother
Don’t hurt each other, yeah
Lines drawn in the sand
Complicate our new command
Love one another, yeah
Yeah, we don’t always live what we believe
Yeah, we don’t like the shouting of demands (shouting of demands)
Yeah, we forget the world is in His hands
But there’s one thing the whole world understands
Don’t talk about it, talk about it
Just do it
(Love)
Love one another (love)
Sister and brother (love)
Don’t hurt each other, yeah
Lines drawn in the sand
Complicate our new command (love)
Love one another, yeah
Love loves a troubled face (a troubled face)
Love loves a hopeless case (I’m such a hopeless case)
Love loves to break the ice (I’ma break the ice)
Love loves at any price (at any price)
Love one another
Sister and brother
Don’t hurt each other, yeah
Get off the high horse
Take it to a higher source
Love is the ultimate force, yeah
(Love)
Love one another (love)
Sister and brother (love)
Don’t hurt each other, yeah
Lines drawn in the sand
Complicate our new command (love)
Love one another, yeah
(Love)
Love one another (love one another)
Sister and brother (sister and brother)
Don’t hurt each other, yeah (love)
Get off the high horse
Take it to a higher source
Love is the ultimate force, yeah