Love…

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings.
1 Timothy 4:1

To be a Christian, that is a follower of Jesus Christ, we need to fully Love God and have faith in His son Jesus Christ as our Savior.
But it’s easier said than done. In following Jesus Christ, we often face a hostile world. No matter how nice or kind we may be to other people, they simply will decide not to like us because we are a Christian. Still, a Christian Loves them anyway.
Jesus taught…
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have Loved you, so also you must Love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you Love one another.”
– John 13:34-35

The price of being a Christian

During his time on Earth, Jesus was persecuted. It should be no surprise, then, that we should encounter persecution today as well.
We are going to face friction from people who don’t believe in God. And as Christians – we have a dilemma to face: We either find harmony with God or with people. We aren’t going to have both.
If we try to have harmony with people, it will be at the expense of having friction with God. If we want harmony with God, it will certainly bring friction with people. The choice is ours – we can only have one or the other.

The greatest commandment

Jesus was asked, out of all the commandments, which is the greatest commandment? (Mark 12:28-29)
Jesus replied…
“And you shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
– Mark 12:30
This of course, comes from the first commandment delivered by God to Moses:
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
– Exodus 20:3

Moses delivered the same message, summoning all Israel to tell them God’s instruction:

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
– Deuteronomy 5:7

Moses later told the Israelites about the greatest commandment, saying…
“You shall Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
– Deuteronomy 6:5

Jesus reiterated this command in Mark 12:30.

To Love God is to show Love

“We Love because He first Loved us.”
– 1 John 4:19

Even though people who don’t believe in God aren’t likely to show ‘love’ to us, we need to show Love to them nonetheless. By showing Love to others, we are reflecting God’s Love within ourselves.

Jesus taught that the second greatest commandment was…
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
– Mark 12:31

If we fail to show Love, it is a direct reflection of the lack of Love we possess for God.

“If anyone says, “I Love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not ‘love’ his brother whom he has seen cannot Love God whom he has not seen.”
– 1 John 4:20

The reward of fully Loving God

Through following Jesus words, of fully Loving God, and having faith in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior, we position ourselves to receive forgiveness through God’s grace and the reward of eternal life, Amen.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Speak less, Love more.