Love for our brothers and sisters

Love for our brothers and sisters

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so 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.

Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus? Do you love them by God’s standard. The apostle Paul wrote the definition of Christian love when he wrote,

"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,

So do you love in the way God wants you to love?

Please think about it.

Is He Central?

Is He Central?
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 said,
"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.'” Matthew 22:36-38.
My question to anyone reading this who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus is, Is God central in your life? Does God take priority in your life?
When I was a young Christian back in the 1970's I attended a small church. Our pastor at the time encouraged people when they went on holiday to bring back a church bulletin from whatever church they attended while they were away.
It was remarkable to see how many bulletins came back. It, while not an accurate indication, it showed those who put a priority in going to church wherever they were.
There are many people here in North America where I live who attend church while at home but not while away from home.
There are many who go to church because it’s the way they were brought up, or because it is a social event. A place where they meet friends and family. The sermon, God and Christ just happen to be there.
Thus my question to you if you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, is God and Christ central in your life?
Please think about it.

The Greatest Commandment

The greatest commandment
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
Prior to Jesus saying that Matthew records Jesus 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.
Martin Luther King jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                              Martin Luther King, Jr.
Do you love?
The apostle Paul defined 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.

As I write this I see in the media wars, ethnic cleansing, terrorism and demonstrations against a myriad of things by both nations and individuals all around the world. So much so it would be easy to say love is lost in the turmoil.
  That being said in that same media I see humanitarian groups of all types showing love in very practical ways such as food and medical aid among other things.
As believers in Christ Jesus this is what we must do. We must show our love toward others in whatever way we can.
We must as Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Are you?
Please think about it.