Has anyone read the bible all the way through? Most people haven’t, even many self proclaimed chistians have not.
What does the bible tell us? Many call it an instruction manual for life, I like the interpretation that calls it a love letter from God.
The disciples of Jesus asked Him the question, what is the greatest commandment?
Matthew 22:36-40
New King James Version
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
So what does this look like? How in our everyday life are we to do this? How do we love God like this? Well first, love is not a feeling or emotion, it is a decided attitude and action. It is a choice. If we lived our lives based purely on feelings and emotions we would be in trouble, currently too many people operate that way.
John 14:21
New King James Version
21 (A)He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and [a]manifest Myself to him.”
We love God because He first loved us 1 John 4:19
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
John 3:16 Psalm 103:13
13
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
Being a father myself, I often think of God’s love for us, like I love my kids. His love of course is so much greater than we can comprehend, but my little mind uses that comparison. The word here say that He pities His children, meaning that He has love and compassion on His children just as earthly fathers have love and compassion for our kids. On my kids worst behavior days...and there’ve been bad ones, I don’t love them any less than any other day, even when I have to discipline them.
Love each Other
People can be very difficult to love at times, am I correct? We all have different personalities and types of people that we connect with easier than others, yet we are still called to love them.
One thing that I often pray is for God to help me to see people as He sees them.
There have been times when, perhaps I’m the only one this happens to, but I’ll look at my daily schedule and see a particular name and think, “oh noooo!” I’m really going to have to get myself mentally prepared for this! I already have in my mind how I think the visit will go, then that person will tell me something going on in their lives or a struggle they’re having or whatever and I’ll have an opportunity to pray with them or share encouragement with them and it’s awesome. God just gives me that gentle backhand.
1 John 4:7-16
New King James Version
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
When my wife and I were first putting together the plan for my office we focused on the verse in
Philippians 2:3-4
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
These ideas can seem very difficult from a worldly point of view.
We are in a time of great confusion, fear and just craziness. There seems to be no truth available, who can you believe? Do you put your faith in your own wisdom and abilities? In other people? In the government? All of these things will fail you eventually. I find that people are hungry for truth
There is one absolute unchanging truth, God loves you. He knows everything about you and STILL wants a relationship with you.
God is love , BUT He is also a holy and righteous judge who cannot excuse sin, not even one “little” sin. That is enough to cause our separation from Him.
That is why Jesus came.
He didn’t have to come, He didn’t have to suffer beatings, humilitation and torture, but He did because He knew that was the only way that we could be forgiven our sins, providing ultimate atonement. If we simply recognize and admit our sinful state, that we have failed and we need forgiveness. If we will ask and repent of our sin, meaning to turn away, no longer pursue sin. He is faithful and just, He has promised that we will be with Him forever. None are good enough on their own merits, none!