Love… It’s the Command of God
Love… It’s the Command of God
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.” - Matthew 22:37-39
In ancient days people feared their gods. Their life involved appeasing the gods they feared. In fact they created gods and named them after the things that worried them. There were gods of rain, of thunder, Sun, and gods of health and prosperity. People served their gods because they feared what would happen if they didn’t and because of what they wanted their gods to do for them. They feared their gods but loving their gods was a foreign concept.
When the Lord God called Israel out of Egypt he began teaching them the concept of serving God out of love for him rather than responding to him out of fear. What was the difference between the God of Israel and the gods of those around them? Why should they serve him from love rather than fear? The answer is so simple, yet profoundly complex.
We are commanded to love because loving another moves us outside of ourselves. It is impossible to be self-centered and love the way God has called us to love. Loving the way God has called us to love requires a knowledge of God, being able to put trust in him and knowing that his desire is to express his love for us rather than to place some judgment upon us.
Prayer: Lord, I tend to use the resources you have given me for my own benefit first. Help me to live to fulfill your purposes. In Jesus name, amen.
Message: We are commanded to love because loving another moves us outside of ourselves. It is impossible to be self-centered and love the way God has called us to love. Loving the way God has called us to love requires a knowledge of God, being able to put trust in him and knowing that his desire is to express his love for us rather than to place some judgment upon us.
Affirmation: I have been baptized in agape (God’s love) and now I love him with all of my being and I love my neighbor as myself.
Reflection: This devotion speaks of needing a knowledge of God in order to love as God calls us to love. How do we gain that knowledge?
To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume Two JUST CLICK HERE
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.” - Matthew 22:37-39
In ancient days people feared their gods. Their life involved appeasing the gods they feared. In fact they created gods and named them after the things that worried them. There were gods of rain, of thunder, Sun, and gods of health and prosperity. People served their gods because they feared what would happen if they didn’t and because of what they wanted their gods to do for them. They feared their gods but loving their gods was a foreign concept.
When the Lord God called Israel out of Egypt he began teaching them the concept of serving God out of love for him rather than responding to him out of fear. What was the difference between the God of Israel and the gods of those around them? Why should they serve him from love rather than fear? The answer is so simple, yet profoundly complex.
We are commanded to love because loving another moves us outside of ourselves. It is impossible to be self-centered and love the way God has called us to love. Loving the way God has called us to love requires a knowledge of God, being able to put trust in him and knowing that his desire is to express his love for us rather than to place some judgment upon us.
Prayer: Lord, I tend to use the resources you have given me for my own benefit first. Help me to live to fulfill your purposes. In Jesus name, amen.
Message: We are commanded to love because loving another moves us outside of ourselves. It is impossible to be self-centered and love the way God has called us to love. Loving the way God has called us to love requires a knowledge of God, being able to put trust in him and knowing that his desire is to express his love for us rather than to place some judgment upon us.
Affirmation: I have been baptized in agape (God’s love) and now I love him with all of my being and I love my neighbor as myself.
Reflection: This devotion speaks of needing a knowledge of God in order to love as God calls us to love. How do we gain that knowledge?
To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume Two JUST CLICK HERE
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