By BEN Larson

encourage you to open your

Bibles , pray for a few minutes , and read Romans 12 . As I was preparing my message for Flame On , this passage found its way into my message , and I felt God tell me to use this for the next HeartBeat article .

This passage came up following 1 John 2:5-6 ( NKJV ), where it says , “ but whoever keeps His word , truly the love of God is perfected . By this we know that we are in Him . He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked .”

What does it mean to keep his word ? One small example of this is clearly spelled out in Romans 12 . God tells us to let His Word transform us , and to allow for that to happen , it takes action ; it takes us taking time out of our day to read God ’ s Word . Not just to read it but to study it , to ask God to speak to us specifically regarding the passage you are reading .

The world isn ’ t in a good place right now , and it won ’ t be until Jesus returns . “ Very truly I tell you , whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing , and they

will do even greater things than these , because I am going to the Father . And I will do whatever you ask in my name , so that the Father may be glorified in the Son . You may ask me for anything in my name , and I will do it ” ( John 14:12-14 , NIV ).

If we are filled with the Holy Spirit , we will produce the fruit of the Spirit ( we can ’ t manufacture them on our own ). And then we can bring the fruit to those around us , but it starts with us . It begins with praying , listening , and following through with what God has commanded us to do .

I believe that many hurt people in this world are this way because this has not been the focal point . We have people who criticize people all around this world out of hate , hurt , or disapproval . God doesn ’ t tell us that ’ s how we are to act . In fact , He says the exact opposite . Some may call it “ tough love ,” but is it actually love , or is it hate or anger ?

You can have a hard conversation and have two outcomes . You will likely have a great outcome if you approach it prayerfully ,

respectfully , and lovingly . On the other hand , if we go into it with guns blazing , anger raging , not slow to speak or listen , the outcome will NEVER be good .

I want you to stick with me . According to a study from the Barna group , 37 % of unchurched Americans avoid churches due to negative past experiences or “ church hurt .” We , as believers , have some work to do . We need to be better at loving people where they are and through what they are going through . Loving like Jesus means working through relationships with love and respect , just like He did . CMA

Ben and Rachel Larson serve CMA as National Evangelist Youth Movement .

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