The LORD and your Neighbour

 The LORD and your Neighbour

Jesus who 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 neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

Do you have the same kind of love Jesus is talking about in this portion of scripture? Do you love God and your neighbour?

It is only through loving and showing that love to those around us that we will win souls for Christ. God set that example by sending Jesus to die for our sins.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17. 

The apostle John wrote,

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  1 John 3:16-18.

Please think about it.

Live good lives

Live Good Lives
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.
Peter here calls believers in Christ Jesus, “a royal priesthood, a holy nation belonging to God...”
He commands believers to abstain from sinful desires, to live good lives among those around us.
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43,44
He goes on to say,
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  
   Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48.
We are to live lives that are better than those around us.
One of the criticisms I have heard consistently over the years is about Christians is that they do not live their life any better than those around them. And in some cases the life they live is worse than the people around them.
We have an obligation as believers in Christ Jesus to live a life that is as good and holy as possible. The writer of Hebrews telling us,
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.
Thus the questions every individual who believes in Christ Jesus must ask themselves is, Am I living a good and holy life?
Do people see Christ in my life without me saying a word?
Please think about it.

Love the Lord your God

Love the Lord your God
In the book of Deuteronomy we read,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
Jesus when asked,
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 neighbour as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
So my first question to you if you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus is; Do you truly “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?”
My second question is; Do you “love your neighbour as yourself?”
My third question do you impress the importance of your faith on your children?
Please think about it.

How to Conquer

How to conquer
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
Earlier in the gospel of Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
This is how you conquer the world. With love. Not, with force.
Napoleon Bonaparte late emperor of France 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.
I thing the concept of conquering the world by love is lost many times, even by those who profess to be believers in Christ Jesus. Especially it seems here in North America where I live.
Sadly I see too many claiming to be followers of Christ Jesus protesting against everything they disagree with. This is not showing love.
I’m sure Jesus and the apostles living in the Roman Empire seen many, many things they would disagree with. Pagan practices that would be abhorrent to their beliefs. Yet we never hear them criticizing Rome or any group outside their own faith.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus consider these scriptures,
The apostle Paul states,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
The Apostle Paul states.
“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.
The apostle Peter states,
“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.
Living a good life to me means living a life of Love. The apostle Paul stating,

“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.

For me demonstrating against anyone we disagree with or laws we disagree with is wrong especially in a democracy.
I like what the late American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and 

my job to love, 

                            Billy Graham.

Please think about it.

Love and Mercy

Love & Mercy
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 1Timothy 1:15,16.
As believers in Christ Jesus I think we must be able to say like Paul we are the worst of sinners. 
The fact is, if you are indeed a follower of Christ Jesus, you have to admit you are a sinner. That you fall short of God’s ideal.
We must remember the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
The apostle Paul writing to Titus said,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4,5.
We must remember the reason Jesus came to this earth. Jesus who speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”John 3:16,17.
The sole reason Jesus came into this world was to provide a way to heaven for anyone who would believe in Him.
As a result we believers in Christ Jesus, must do everything we can to present the Love of God, the Love of Jesus to all we come in contact with. That they may receive the saving grace of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We must be careful not to put up barriers between God and the individuals we come in contact with.
I like what James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
We are to show mercy even to our enemy. The apostle Paul writing,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....” Romans 12:18-20a.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are not allowed to Judge anyone. Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
Judging others especially when we may not have all the facts puts up barriers between the individual and the one he or she is judging. In doing so it can create a barrier between the individual and God. This should never be so.
The late evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and

 my job to love,” 

                         Billy Graham.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, do you admit you are a sinner saved through the cleansing blood of Christ Jesus, through the Grace of God?
Are you showing mercy to those around you, even your enemy?
Are you judging others or are you showing Mercy to those around you?
Are you truly showing the Love of God to all whom you come in contact with, friend and foe alike?
Please think about it.