How can we encourage others to follow Jesus' command in Luke 10:28? What Jesus Asked and Promised “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Luke 10:27) “ You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:28) Why This Matters • Scripture means exactly what it says; Christ ties real, abundant life to active love for God and people. • Obeying makes the gospel visible (John 13:34-35). • Encouraging others to obey safeguards them from empty profession (1 John 3:18). Start with Your Own Example • Consistently pursue wholehearted worship—letting affection for the Lord overflow in speech and decisions. • Show practical concern for neighbors: check-ins, meals, shared burdens (Galatians 6:2). • Let others “see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Use Scripture as Fuel • Remind friends what Jesus promises: “you will live” (Luke 10:28). • Share passages that join love and obedience—John 14:15; 1 John 5:3. • Memorize Luke 10:27-28 together; the Spirit wields His Word to stir hearts. Invite Participation—Not Spectating • Pair up for a service project (yard work for an elderly neighbor, grocery runs, etc.). • Form small teams that adopt a widow, single parent, or foster family (James 1:27). • Encourage testimonies: brief stories of how loving others opened gospel doors. Speak Life-Giving Words • Offer sincere, specific affirmation when you witness acts of love (Proverbs 16:24). • Gently call out inconsistency, aiming for restoration, not shame (Galatians 6:1). • Share how you still fall short; humility invites growth together. Create Rhythms of Accountability • Meet weekly or bi-weekly to ask, “How did you love God and neighbor this week?” • Use Hebrews 10:24-25 as your rally cry: “let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds… encouraging one another.” • Keep a shared list of needs and victories; review, pray, and plan next steps. Equip with Practical Tools • Provide lists of local ministries and volunteer openings. • Offer simple training: how to share the gospel, how to listen, how to meet tangible needs. • Supply resources—gift cards, food baskets, transportation—so love moves beyond intentions. Persevere and Don’t Lose Heart • “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) • Celebrate small steps; growth in love is often gradual. • Keep eyes on Christ, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Living the Command Together Encouragement thrives where believers intentionally display, discuss, and deploy love. By anchoring everything in Scripture, modeling genuine care, and walking beside others in practical service, we help one another obey Jesus’ simple yet life-giving charge: “Do this and you will live.” |
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