Love

Love is essential in the Christian faith.  Love covers over a multitude of sins.  This isn’t saying that a person’s love can forgive sins, only the love and grace of God can do that.  Please read John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

And because of His love and grace, God sent his only begotten Son Jesus Christ in the form of a babe and through His shed blood only can sins be forgiven.  Please read John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

God sent Jesus for various reasons, but I think the main ones were to be our sin bearer, to be the intercessor between God and man, to be the sacrificial Lamb of God to ransom all who will put their trust in Him and to set the captive free, praise the Lord, and also to show us what real grace and love really look like!!  

Please read 1 Peter 4:8-11, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

This kind of love tells the truth, even when it may hurt the person being spoken to.  Remember, only the truth will set a person free and watering down the truth to make the person feel better about themselves is not love at all, all it is, is enabling a person making them feel better about their sins.  When you tell a person the truth in real love that person may experience, godly sorrow, which leads to true repentance which leads to true salvation.  Check out were Paul demonstrated real love to the people he was addressing  2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”      

Some people seem to think that just saying you love someone is enough.  Jesus didn’t just claim to love us, He demonstrated it many times over, and in the end, He demonstrated the ultimate love when He laid down His life for mankind and their sin problem!!  Talk, about love with no actions, means very little.  You may be somebody’s miracle someday if you are not afraid to get your hands dirty!!  When God’s Word says to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself, it means to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Please read the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”  

I think you got the message, if you are able, help your neighbor, try it and see how it feels.  I pray that this has been an encouragement and help.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you all have a super day and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!  

Now think of this, if this was something that happened to you would you want some person just to bend down and tell you he loved you and then just ride off into the sunset, or prove it by their actions by helping you, enough said!!