You have a permanent dwelling place in the house of God. And this house lives the commndments of God. The challenge is not only to know God’s commandments but to live it out too. That is how non-believers will know that you are true Christians.
In the Old Testament, there are 613 laws that God passed on to His people. But in the New Testament, during the time of Jesus, only two laws encompassed the 613 previous laws. Matthew 22:37-38 says, “Love the Lor dyour 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.” Love God and love others - these are God’s greatest commandments. Are you ready to open your heart to these? When you read the New Testament, Jesus really showed the love of the Father and the love towards others.
Is your heart fully surrendered to God? Do you dedicate all your emotions to Him? Do you obey when He says that a certain person is not for you? Or do you try to get your way? Do you have an enemy? If you do, how can you say that you have given all your heart to God? If you have given your entire heart to the Lord, you will feel fulfilled. You will have a sense of peace, joy and contentment. You will not look for love in all the wrong places and in all the wrong people. If you give all your heart to God, it includes accepting all who have done you wrong as well as forgiveness, not only to others but to yourself as well.
Loving the Lord with all your soul talks about your identity. Have you committed your whole being to God? If you love God, you will recognize how He created you. And when you love Him, you love yourself too. It is not being selfish. It is acknowledging that you are made in God’s image and likeness; that is why you have value. You have to know your worth as children of God.
Having the mind of Christ is loving Him with all your mind. Is your mind aligned with Him? When you have a problem and your mind is right with God, you already know that a solution is coming. Having the mond of Christ is knowing and understanding that all the things happening to you are God’s plans.
When you love God, you actually love yourself. If you feel unloved, you need to start loving God first. Only when you learn to love God is when you will learn to love yourself.
How do we love our neighbors?
1 Corinthians 16:14 ”Do everything in love.”
1 Peter 2:17 ”Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.“
1 John 3:18 ”Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.“
Romans 13:8 ”Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.“
1 Peter 3:8 ”Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.“
How do we love our enemies?
Matthew 5:44 ”But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Luke 6:27-28 ”“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.“
A new commandment…
John 13:34 ”“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.“
John 13:35 ”By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”“
John 15:17 ””This is my command: Love each other.“
1 John 4:7-8 ”Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.“
John 14:21 ”Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Love one another: Rules of Families
Colossians 3:18-24
”Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.“
Love one another: Community
Romans 12:10 ”Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.“
John 15:13 ”Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.“
How far can your love go to show God’s love to others? Jesus laid down His life for you. That is His invitation. How far will you go for love?
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