November 3rd, 2026
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Love God, Love People
James Moore tells about a man named George. George was a peacemaker with a big heart and wonderful sense of humor. Everyone loved George at church, and he was respected at the hospital where he worked. The reason why so many people loved George was because he was always kind and respectful to everyone he met.
George’s children clearly remember the days George spent in the hospital before his death. The administrator of the hospital paid him a visit. They spoke as though they were old friends. A few minutes later one of the janitors came to visit George. They too had a nice visit.
When the janitor left, one of George’s children said to him, "Dad, did you realize that you treated the president of the hospital and the janitor just alike?" George smiled, chuckled and then said, "Let me ask you something: If the administrator left for two weeks and the janitor left for two weeks, which one do you think would be missed the most?"
Then George called his children around his bed. "Let me show you something I carry in my pocket all the time," he told them, "even when I mow the lawn." George pulled out a pocket-sized cross and a marble with the golden rule on it. George said, "On the cross are written these words, ‘God Loves You,’ and on the marble are these words, ‘Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do unto You.’ The cross reminds me of how deeply God loves me. And the marble reminds me of how deeply God wants me to love others.”
(SOURCE: James W. Moore, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS..., (Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 1993), p. 78.
On Wednesday nights we have been in a study series that I have titled, Famous Last Words, based on the final teachings Jesus gave his disciples in John’s Gospel, just before his arrest, trial and crucifixion, Chapters 13-17. Several times on that night he told his disciples to Love one another as I have loved you.
In 1 John 4. we are reminded that loving God is not possible if we do not love our brothers.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12
It in natural that, when we are filled with the supernatural love of God, for it to be expressed from us to others. By sharing that love to others, we demonstrate Jesus to those who need him. They will be able to embrace the one who loved them through you.
This Sunday we will continue our series of messages with Fan Into Flame the Gift of God (Part 3) A Thing Called Love based on 2 Timothy 1:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages. I pray that we will be challenged to love as God loves.
Loving God and loving people,
Jon
Love God, Love People
James Moore tells about a man named George. George was a peacemaker with a big heart and wonderful sense of humor. Everyone loved George at church, and he was respected at the hospital where he worked. The reason why so many people loved George was because he was always kind and respectful to everyone he met.
George’s children clearly remember the days George spent in the hospital before his death. The administrator of the hospital paid him a visit. They spoke as though they were old friends. A few minutes later one of the janitors came to visit George. They too had a nice visit.
When the janitor left, one of George’s children said to him, "Dad, did you realize that you treated the president of the hospital and the janitor just alike?" George smiled, chuckled and then said, "Let me ask you something: If the administrator left for two weeks and the janitor left for two weeks, which one do you think would be missed the most?"
Then George called his children around his bed. "Let me show you something I carry in my pocket all the time," he told them, "even when I mow the lawn." George pulled out a pocket-sized cross and a marble with the golden rule on it. George said, "On the cross are written these words, ‘God Loves You,’ and on the marble are these words, ‘Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do unto You.’ The cross reminds me of how deeply God loves me. And the marble reminds me of how deeply God wants me to love others.”
(SOURCE: James W. Moore, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS..., (Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 1993), p. 78.
On Wednesday nights we have been in a study series that I have titled, Famous Last Words, based on the final teachings Jesus gave his disciples in John’s Gospel, just before his arrest, trial and crucifixion, Chapters 13-17. Several times on that night he told his disciples to Love one another as I have loved you.
In 1 John 4. we are reminded that loving God is not possible if we do not love our brothers.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12
It in natural that, when we are filled with the supernatural love of God, for it to be expressed from us to others. By sharing that love to others, we demonstrate Jesus to those who need him. They will be able to embrace the one who loved them through you.
This Sunday we will continue our series of messages with Fan Into Flame the Gift of God (Part 3) A Thing Called Love based on 2 Timothy 1:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages. I pray that we will be challenged to love as God loves.
Loving God and loving people,
Jon
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