Make Good Habits: The Habit of Loving and Forgiving

Today, we will look at the habits of loving and forgiving. These might be the hardest to live out, but it is possible with God.

While many thoughts and lessons can be drawn from this story about the rich young ruler, one fact stands out: “Jesus looked at him and loved him.”

Jesus loved supremely; his habit of relating to people with love is a habit that his followers need to develop.

Watch the full Sunday service and message by Pastor Dennis Jacobson below.

SERMON TEXT

Mark 10:17-22 (ESV)

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Matthew 18:21-25 (ESV)

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

SERMON NOTES

• We are commanded to love our enemies.
• We are commanded to love our neighbors.
• We are commanded to love one another.

The habit of loving

• • is seeking the best for others
  • is the oxygen of the Christian life
  • is a daily practice

The habit of forgiving

• • Modeled on the cross
  • Taught to his disciples
  • Not a natural response to our hurts

Realizing how completely Christ has forgiven us should produce a free and generous attitude of forgiveness toward others.