John 13:34-35 ~ "A renewed commandment I give unto you: that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Romans 5:8 ~ "But Elohim commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiyah died for us." He died for all of us... for the sins of the world.

In return, we should die to our old nature for Him, and be His servant, and a servant to others.

Mark 2:15-17 ~ "And it came to pass that as Yahshua sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Yahshua and His disciples: for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, ‘How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?’ When Yahshua heard it, He saith unto them, ‘They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ "

He ate and drank with those that needed Him (as we all do need Him).

Should we eat with unbelievers and sinners?

So His love takes us from where we are, gets us on track, and causes us to grow. How?

1. Feeding

Luke 9:12-17 ~ "And when the day began to wear away, then came twelve, and said unto Him, ‘Send the multitude away that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.’ But He said unto them, ‘Give ye them to eat.’ And they said, ‘We have no more but five loaves and two fishes, except we should go and buy meat for all this people.’ For they were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, ‘Make them sit down by fifties in a company.’ And they did so and made them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled. And there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets."

Should we feed the hungry?

2. Healing

Matthew 14:14 ~ "And Yahshua went forth and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick."

Mark 1:32-34 ~"And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils, and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him."

In Mark 2:16 (previously mentioned), the Pharisees asked why Yahshua ate with publicans and sinners.  Yahshua’s response to their question was:

Mark 2:17 ~ "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

3. Teaching (Patience in our ignorance)

We see with His disciples that Yahshua continued to lovingly and patiently teach (to educate us)

John 14:8-9 ~ "Philip saith unto [Yahshua], ‘Master, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.’ Yahshua saith unto him, ‘Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou, then, ‘Shew us the Father’?"

He could see that Philip had a sincere heart even though he was greatly lacking in understanding. So, instead of becoming flabbergasted with Philip, He continued to explain countless things.

John 14:6-10 ~ The Father and Son are one.

John 15:9-11 ~ Keep the commands.

John 17:11 ~ Messiyah’s prayer that His disciples become one

John 17:17-20 ~ Sanctify in Thy Word (teach it)

Another example is in Matthew 8:26. The disciples were frightened of the storm at sea. Yahshua rose up and asked, "Why are you so fearful, O ye of little faith?" But immediately He did as they requested. He saved them. He caused the storm to cease. He didn’t look at them as ridiculously not worth His time. He felt sorry for them and tenderly sought to increase their belief and understanding, causing them to look to and depend on Him.

Should we be there to encourage when brothers and sisters have troubled times?

There were those who were not "His chosen" (as in the apostles), but they still looked to Him, and He still loved and commended them.

There were times such as on the boat in Matthew 8 that he referred to His disciples as "ye of little faith". On the other hand, He would take someone such as the woman who had had an issue of blood for 12 years, and upon healing her say, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:34)

He didn’t show partiality with His love. He looked at people’s hearts that had faith in Him and His power.

Should we help those looking and searching and questioning?

4. Taking time for children in the faith

Another example is in Mark 10:13 ~ "And they brought young children to [Yahshua], that He should touch them, and His disciples rebuked those that brought them."

Yahshua, however, "was much displeased, and said unto them, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of Elohim. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of Elohim as a little child, he shall not enter therein.’ And He took them up in His arms, and put His hands upon them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:14-16)

As a little child

~ A little child is ready to learn.

~ They look to those who teach.

~ They’re subject to their parents and others.

We need to look to Messiyah as our guide.

Should we be there for children? (Deuteronomy 6:7)

Are we worthy of Yahshua’s love? No, but He loves us anyway, and instructs us, "Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13:34) ..... and that we love others as He did.

1. Feeding

James 2:15-17 ~ "If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, ‘Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled’; notwithstanding, ye give them not those things which are needful to the body: What doth it profit? Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone."

How do we treat those in our assemblies who are in genuinely in need? What are those around us going to see when they look at our fellowships, in regards to helping the truly needy with food, clothing, shelter, etc.?

2. Healing

James 5:14-15 ~ "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of Yahweh. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and Yahweh shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

What do people see in regards to sickness? Is there any open warmth and a healing spirit? Is there a caring, kind, anointing spirit in our walk in Messiyah for the sick and ailing?

3. Being Patient

Romans 14:1-3 ~ "Him that is weak in the faith, receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things; another who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth. For Elohim hath received him." Romans 14:15 ~ "But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Messiyah died."

Should we have some tolerance?

We need to have patience with each other, with differing views, and with various levels of understanding? Do the weak in our assemblies feel a warm welcome or an inferiority? Do those observing us from the sidelines see a spirit of patience and understanding or one of harsh condemnation?

What is going to draw others to want to be a part of Messiyah’s body?

4. Teaching

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ~ "All Scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Let us remember, though, how Yahshua is patient with our slowness to understand.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ~ "And the servant of Elohim must not strive, but be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if Elohim peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil which are taken captive by him at his will."

Others will be recovered by a spirit of gentleness, patience, and meek instruction. If outsiders see us being harsh on Yahweh’s flock, will they want to be a part of it?

It seems there are lots of groups out there that have little patience and teach harshly, lording over the flock with corrupt techniques.  Let us cleave to those of servanthood, who are teaching and living the Word of Yahweh with a Messiyah-like nature.

So.... how will we handle ourselves towards others?

An example: The apostle Shaul (Paul), a Benjamite, calls himself "less than the least of all set-apart ones" (Galatians 3:8), and commends the gentiles as "fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of [Elohim’s] promise in Messiyah by the good news" (Galatians 3:6). He is not partial to the Jews, Benjamites, etc., but counts all his "glamorous past" as dung (Philippians 3:4-8), that he might gain Messiyah. Furthermore, he says that both Jews and Gentiles are one, as long as they believe in the same Elohim and Messiyah. (Ephesians 2:14-22) He considers the Gentiles every bit as much his brethren as the Jews. He embraces them with instruction.

Some more examples: 2 Timothy 2:24-25 ~ "And the servant of Yahweh must.... be gentle unto all.... in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if peradventure Elohim will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth"

Do we love those who are not yet sheep in Yahshua’s fold? Do we have a reaching out love? Are we willing to feed and clothe non-believers, physically and in instruction of the Word? Will we pray for the sickness of someone who does not know Yahweh? Are we patient with these people? Just how far are we willing to go?

In Matthew 5:44-47 ~ "But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so?"

Do we love even those who have expressed opposition to our faith? those who have ridiculed us for our beliefs? or cruelly left us standing in the cold? If our love is not broken by their cruelty, if we continue to pray for them, if we refuse to be hateful to them no matter how hateful they are to us, it will be a powerful testimony to them.

How far are we willing to go with our love?

C. Yahweh Is Looking For A Family (that is, each one of us)

Ephesians 4:1-6 ~ "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Master, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Master, one faith, one baptism, one Elohim and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." A genuine brotherly love is patient and peacemaking.

At the same time, it is important to remember that a real love loves enough to say the truth when necessary. Yahshua did this often.

Ephesians 4:15-16 ~ "But speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up into Him in all things which is the head, even Messiyah, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love."

We are a family in the body of Messiyah. A family’s love is close, open to communication. It works together. It grows; it does not diminish. It edifies, rather than discouraging. It also speaks the truth in love, that the whole family might become more unified and more better fit together. This kind of love reaches out hospitably to others as well, so others see, feel, and desire to be drawn to WANT to be part of His family, and of His Kingdom also.

Romans 12:9-21 ~ "Let love be without dissimulation: abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another, not slothful in business, fervent in spirit , serving Yahweh, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, distributing to the necessity of the set-apart ones, given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith Yahweh.’ Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."

John 17:17 ~ "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth."

Brethren and sisters, let us then allow Him to sanctify us through His truth and His love lived out in us.  As this begins in each one of our personal lives and family circles, it will spread out into the broader realm of Yahweh's family as a whole, causing us to be living representations of Yahshua..... and all men shall know that we are indeed HIS DISCIPLES.  HalleluYAH!