Founded on Love

Founded on Love
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Napoleon Bonaparte speaking of Jesus said,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to realize that we are helping build Christ’s empire. We need to realize that, that empire is built on “LOVE”. It therefore our job to love..
Billy Graham the great American evangelist put it this way.

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                   Billy Graham.

The apostle Paul defined Christian love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

 But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus you are obligated to Love as Jesus Loved, unconditionally. You are to love in the way the apostle Paul defined.
Thus the question becomes, are you loving those around you unconditionally?
Please think about it.

Fruits of the Spirit

Fruits of the Spirit
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22.23.
These are the attributes of all who truly believe in Christ Jesus. If we are truly following Christ we should be known as exhibiting these attributes.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans, states,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
Paul writing to Titus said,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.
Living at peace with all men is a Christian attribute. Christianity is not a confrontational faith. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus did not say to force anyone to become a Christian. He never said to argue with anyone, judge them or condemn them in any way.
The job of the Christian is to present the gospel message to those around them, then let them decide for themselves if they believe or not.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Is your life truly reflecting the fruits of the Spirit?
Please think about it.