Online Bible Study - The Promise Is to You

THE QUESTION: How should we behave toward everyone else in the world?

WE BELIEVE: We should love others as ourselves.

A STORY:
A lone man was going along a dangerous road and was attacked by bandits. They took his things, beat him and left him to die on the side of the road. A religious person saw the man, but she did not help. She was afraid she would be late for an appointment. Next a priest passed by, but he did not help either. He had important duties to attend to. Finally, an outcast saw him and pitied him. He bound up his wounds and carried him to a hospital. He said, "Take care of him, and when I come back I will pay the whole bill myself." Jesus asks, "Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?" (based on Luke 10:29-36)

List a time when you have seen someone love another person like this:

Sadly, we don't see people loving each other all the time. Consider how people...

-are jealous of others, but want others to show them friendship;
-are crooked in business, but expect others to be honest with them;
-neglect their families, but expect their families to show them respect;
-are cruel to others, but expect others to be kind to them;
-are disrespectful of others, but expect others to respect them;
-destroy other people's property, but expect protection for their things.
There are times when we all put ourselves first, before other people. Once again, we find that we are all sinners.

GOD SPEAKS...
St. Paul writes, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

In the story above, the outcast did the right thing. He helped the person in trouble, even at great expense. Jesus is the perfect "outcast." He saved a world in trouble even though it cost Him His life.

Because he lived, died and rose for you, the times you have failed to love others are forgiven. Because Jesus died and rose for the world, the times others failed to love you are forgiven, too. Forgiven and forgiving, you can start fresh each day as you learn more and more from Jesus about love.

THIS PART OF OUR LESSON ASKS:
- How would the world be different if we loved others as ourselves?

- When we get to heaven we will finally love others perfectly. What are some things you can do now to love others better?

- How important must you be to Jesus that He laid down His life for you?

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