Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s transfer our focus to learning at Jesus’ charter school.

Jesus said in today’s scripture, John 13:34 (NLT)…
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

Consider…
Texas Public Charter Schools association says, Charter schools are public, tuition-free schools that are open to all students. One way public charter schools differ from traditional schools is that they have greater flexibility to nurture students’ interests and put their unique needs first.

In exchange for that freedom, the State of Texas holds public charter schools accountable to higher standards for academic, financial, and managerial performance.

Similar to Charter schools, God the Father publicily displayed His unfailing love by making salvation free through Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:9‭-‬10 (NLT) explains…
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

This reminds me, the name of God’s charter school is Real Love Academy. It’s motto is we love others because God loved us. (1 John 4:11)

Just like the state holds charter schools to a higher standard, in today’s scripture, Jesus holds us to His highest standard.

Our school curriculum is love and grace, taught by Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit, who is the school’s interventionist.

An interventionist addresses the specific needs of a particular child when regular classroom instruction is not sufficient. Interventionists work with the teacher to design methods of learning that are most appropriate for each child.

Thus, the Holy Spirit helps us understand and apply Jesus’ teachings.

For example, someone has hurt or is hurting you, the Holy Spirit reminds you of Jesus’ in instructions in Luke 6:27‭-‬31 (NLT)…
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

In this example, the Holy Spirit might say when Jesus said love your enemies, He described them as…

• Those who hate you…do good to them.
• Those who curse you…bless them.
• Those who hurt you…pray for them
• Those who harm you…give them another chance.
• Those who take from you…release what they’ve taken.

The Holy Spirit shows us that God wants us to extend loving grace to our enemies.

This seems like a lot to ask of us charter students, until we read Ephesians 2:1‭-‬5 (NLT)…
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

The Lord reminds us that He extended grace from love when we deserved His anger. Therefore He expects us to extend grace from His love in the same way. In fact Jesus said we’re acting like God’s children when we do. His instructions in Luke 6:35‭-‬36 NLT
are…
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Okay, we get it love the mean people. Yet the Holy Spirit didn’t stop there, He also emphasized love at Real Love Academy is authentic. He referred to 1 John 3:16‭-‬18 (NLT) in our student handbook, which says…
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

Real Love sees a need and meets that need. To illustrate this point, the Holy Spirit led me to Romans 5:6 (NLT), which says…
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Jesus is saying, here at Real Love Academy, we don’t just talk about love, we show it.

For those who know me, they know that I could go on and on about extending the love of God. But, I will close with this, with God everything begins with love. 2 John 1:5‭-‬6 (NLT) explains…
I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

The Holy Spirit explains that practically speaking this means…
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:12‭-‬14 NLT

In God’s Real Love Academy, love isn’t an elective choice, it’s a requirement for graduation.

Now let’s matriculate in Real Love everywhere with everyone.

Today’s Song is…
Real Love

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)