What about love in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ?
i've heard people say that loving people isn't the most important thing for a christian to do. Even heard them say that bible study, obedience, prayer & a relationship with God is much more important than loving undeserving people. Well, i believe that some of that is true, but not all of it. Just take a look at what Jesus said in Matthew 22:34-40:
Matthew 22:34-40
New International Version (NIV)
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
1 Corinthians 10:24
New International Version (NIV)
24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
New International Version (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
As i see it, it's pretty clear that love is everything. According to Jesus, everything the law says & everything the prophets have said are fulfilled in loving God & loving others. Paul even says to value others better than yourselves. i'm not trying to fight about what i've heard people say, i just want us all to consider what Jesus said is the most important thing a disciple of himself should do. Love Love Love!
Yeah, i know if your a tough guy, you have a hard time with the mushy stuff. But consider the life of Jesus. He didn't walk around being a tough guy. He walked around loving the un-lovable. Don't believe it? Read the gospels.
Love your neighbor as yourself - Don't seek your own good, but the good of others - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
Please don't think i'm pointing fingers. i'm reminding myself everyday that i need to put my face to the ground & worship God with all my heart & show God's love to the people around me. Even seek out the hurting, the hungry, the homeless, the desperate, the sick, the undeserving, the addicted, the unwanted and show them the love of God in whatever way that i am able. Please quit worrying about your comfort while forgetting about all the people that are so desperate for an answer to why life is so miserable for them. Believe it or not, we know the answer. JESUS! He said that all the hurting people were Him. Was he kidding? i don't think so.
It's not a joke. We are the most comfortable people on the planet & we want to keep it that way. Most of us can't imagine doing without any of our comforts or treats. Please stop complaining about how tough your life is because you have such a busy schedule & your just so stressed out & that you've had such a tough day, while sipping your latte in your easy chair & think about how we can treat others with respect, humility & love, just like Jesus has shown us to do.
p.s.: Jesus was homeless.
This sounds like what your grandmother and granddaddy would say. As soon as I started reading it I thought about them. I hope you are feeing lots better. I have been keeping up with you through Jane Murphy.
ReplyDelete