Start Here: Beginning a Relationship with Jesus

by David Dwight

IN TAKING ACTION: SERVING Authentic Christianity will show forth in a love and care for God and people. Jesus described the sum of all the law and commandments as, “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30–31 ESV). The beauty of this statement is that love for both God and people is present if a person’s relationship with God is real. To serve people but have no love for God is not God-centered love and service. To love God but do and care nothing for those around you suggests that the love for God either is not real or is significantly lacking. You see, God loves people—so if you love God and are truly growing in your relationship with God, you will also be growing in a love for people. Taking action by serving, by caring, by stepping outward toward people is expressing the heart of God’s love to people, and it is also a significant way that you will grow in your own relationship with Jesus. Why? Because this is what Jesus did. He gave Himself for others. As you do this, He will be with you and you will grow in Him. This can be as simple as offering a listening ear to a person who is going through a hard time, or it may be more extensive than that. It is offering yourself one way or another. It could be your time, your help, your money, your love, your presence. But what’s clear is that you take action and ...