Optimistic Love

Eros love - physically charged love, conditional love
Agape love - unconditional, sacrificial, God's love for us
Our starting place: living in the overflow of God's love.  1 Cor 13:7
1. Optimistic Love: is action shown to another. 1 Jn 3:18, 1 Cor 13:1-3
2. Optimistic Love: covers the worst for another.
3. Optimistic Love: believes the best about another. Mistrust, cynicism, and suspicion are at odds with Godly love.
4. Optimistic Love: places confidence in the future of another.
5. Optimistic Love: endures in the face of difficulty with another.
Jn 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

An Invitation Lk 9:23-26

I want to be intense in my walk with Jesus.
Lk 9:23-26
- It is an invitation to follow Him.  v23 "whoever" this invitation to follow Jesus is open to everyone. 
- It is an invitation to know Him. Jn 3:16. Passionately pursue Jesus.
- It is an invitation to deny yourself. v23
He calls us to spend our lives obeying Him, giving our all for Him.
- It is an invitation to suffer. v23 Take up your cross - die to ourselves. Come to the end of yourself, that's when we truly are open to being all in for Jesus. 1 Pet 4:14.
- The invitation is given daily. v23 Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Lk 9:57-62 We are great at having excuses for not following Jesus.

What Jesus Asked: Do you love me?

Jn 21:1-19 Do you love me?
Mt 26:31-35, 69-75 Peter betrays Jesus.
Jn 21:3 After denying/failing Jesus, Peter runs back to what he knows best - fishing. However, they caught nothing - it did not bring him any peace or comfort.
v5 Jesus asks us - Do you have anything to show for your own efforts?
v9-12 Jesus gave then a beautiful invitation: he didn't need their fish, to start the fire, or anything - just wanted them to hang out with him.
v15-17 Peter, do you love me? More than anything? Do you really love me? (3 denials, 3 chances for redemption) Jesus often takes our greatest failures and uses them for our good and his glory.
When we fail, run to Jesus. He will forgive and restore us, and use our failures.

What Jesus Asked: Has no one condemned you?

John 8:2-11
Rom 8:1 no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Now or in eternal life.
Self-condemnation:
1. We are set free from self-condemnation when we are reminded that we are no longer under the law but grace. Rom 3:19-20, 5:8; Heb 10:17; Phil 2:12b. Our failures point us back to our need for a Savior, and can be used to strengthen our salvation.
2. We are set free from self-condemnation when we stop seeking the approval of men and rest in the approval we already have in Christ. Gal 1:10.
3. We are set free from self-condemnation when we put down our own stones. What we are filled with (hopefully God's grace) will overflow onto those around us. Gal 6:1
Go and sin no more. Jesus was giving her permission and power to give up sin, freedom to resist Satan and his accusations, Phil 4:4.

What Jesus Asked: Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Mt 6:24-34
My top worries: Mom and dad, Greg's health, not spending time with God, lack of discipline, insurance, weight and health
v24 you can't serve two masters - v25 "Therefore"
God loves us so much, we do not need to worry. Worry changes nothing, it doesn't help us in any way. When I worry, it's like I don't know Jesus as my Lord and savior.
Seek His kingdom FIRST, and trust him to take care of you. When his kingdom is our priority we will experience peace from God.
Heb 11; Acts 20:22-24

What Jesus Asked: Which of these do you think was a neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37 the parable of the good Samaritan
This is a story about salvation that started with the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" It's a matter of the heart - what do you love? Is it Jesus, or your own life, self, or stuff? We cannot do anything to inherit eternal life,  it was already done for us by Jesus. He lived a perfect life and went to the cross to pay the debt for our sins. Place your faith in Jesus.
Because of the love of Jesus, we are called to be good neighbors.
1. Being a good neighbor is costly. v34-35
2. Being a good neighbor can be risky and even dangerous.
3. Being a good neighbor will inconvenience you. (timing)
4. Being a good neighbor requires action, not just words. Jas 2:14-17, 1 Jn 3:16-18
5. Being a good neighbor means someone will take advantage of you.
6. Being a good neighbor will sometimes make you uncomfortable. v33 a Samaritan - looked down upon by the Jews, they hated each other. Had pity - meant he felt it in his gut, incredible love and compassion. Same word used in the story of the prodigal son when the father saw the son and ran to him.

What Jesus Asked: Why are you so afraid?

Mk 4:35-41
1. Jesus in your boat is no exemption from storms. v37
2. Jesus allows storms to drive us to him. v38, Jas 1:2-3
3. Jesus can handle any storm. v39-40, What do we have that Jesus can't handle?
4. We have a choice to respond in fear or faith. v40, Jesus equated fear with lack of faith in him. The reality is that he is with us through the storm.
5. There's a good kind of fear. v41, a healthy fear of God. Worship Him with awe, fear, and reverence.