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THE pathways Jesus gave us for our life are to love God and to love others. Although difficult, it is simple. This word "love" is Agape love, which is doing what is best for the other person no matter how we feel. There are many ways we show love back to God, including obedience and worship. Our love for others is motivated by God's love for us and expressed by meeting their needs which may be spiritual, emotional, and or physical. |
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A toddler is unable to understand the reasons for most of the commands of their parents. They have no idea of the damage that can be caused by touching something hot or falling from something high. Their success at avoiding serious injury is dependent on listening, trusting, and obeying. They also learn from what they observe their parents doing. If they observe tenderness in words and actions, they view that as normal. When they are told to "be nice" to a sibling, they have an idea of what that looks like. ● APPLYING THE PARALLEL: Like little children, we depend on Jesus not only for our pathway through life but for the example of how to live and love. Jesus has summed up the law with the command to love God and others. He also provided us with the perfect example of love, his death for our life. He "came to serve, not to be served." (Mt 20:28) As we meditate on the immense sacrifice given so our relationship with God could be restored, our love for God grows along with our desire to be like Jesus. As we give thought to the example of Jesus, we learn how to treat others. The way we treat others flows out of how we believe we have been treated. We need to meditate on the truth, which is that a perfect life was given so we may have life eternal. What more could we want? Now share that love with others. Do what is best for them, no matter how you feel. |
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1) Loving God: Obedience to God's commandments
shows love for God. The Ten Commandments give us a guideline.
However, the passages below in the book of James gives
us a broader and although simpler, a more difficult task of
obedience. 2) Loving Others: Some needs are clear. For example,
there are people in parts of the world who have to walk long
distances for water. We can give financially to meet those needs.
Giving some people money might possibly enable them not to work,
which is not loving toward them. Most of the time, we have a good
idea of what a person's real needs are: a listening ear, sharing a
truth about God or this physical life, or helping with a task.
Are you sensitive to other's needs? When a clear need is presented
to you, and you do not meet it, what is keeping you from passing on
God's love? If there is not a valid reason, then confess it,
repent, and love. |
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● 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." (Matt 22:37-40) ● "If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15) ● Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (James 4:17) ● Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27) |
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