I think Jesus nailed the
answer to this question when He said, “…You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all
your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 ESV)
Most any of us can put on
some kind of outward camouflage that can usually mask our feelings and make
others think we are what we are not. Only Jesus really knows what is in our
hearts. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Let us not be so concerned
about what others think, but make sure this verse is alive within us. If we
love Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and
mind, and love our neighbor as our self, we are where our Lord God wants us to
be.
First Corinthians chapter
thirteen expounds on this trademark that should come from all of us who are
Christians. We all fall short to one degree or another, but this should be the
Godly attitude that matures within our Christian souls.
Does Luke 10:27 shown above
live within us? Do others see Jesus in us? I must admit that I have plenty of
room to grow in this area. What about you?
When you really think about
this verse, it covers everything. Try it. Think of anything you like, and hold
this verse up alongside it. When we do that, we get a different picture of our
self than we had before. We look in the mirror, and really see our self as we
truly are. It isn’t pretty is it? God has a way of peeling away the fake stuff,
and revealing the Truth.
Perhaps this is why many
people just don’t like Jesus and all that He says, because Jesus’ words go past
the veneer and reach down in the soul. They convict, but even though they
convict those who will listen, they also offer comfort to those who seek Him.
He knows we need a Savior and He has provided the only way that can be
accomplished. The most well-known verse from His word says this:
“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Now that is real love. That
is the love he wants to provide us and to help us nourish in our Christian
life. This love always wants to please our Lord God. This love always wants to
put others first before our own desires.
Our greatest concern should
be, “Am I pleasing my Lord.” Our second greatest concern should be for others.
When we put God first and others second, He takes care of us.
It is my belief that all
Christians will have this trademark of love for God and man living within them.
“If a man say, I love God,
and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom
he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment
have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John
4:20-21)
With that thought in mind,
consider how society reacts today toward Christians, especially those who
dogmatically cling to the veracity of God’s Word. Christians who accept the
Bible for what it says, and not what we want it to say, are being hated and
persecuted by a country that once called itself a Christian nation.
These same Christians are
being labeled as “hate-mongers.” How can this be, when a true Christian
possesses the trademark of love, a love that comes from Jesus Christ our
Savior?
Is it hatred for a Christian
to warn others of the effects of sin? Is it hatred for a Christian to warn
others of the judgment to come upon those without Jesus Christ as their Savior?
Is it hatred for a Christian to warn a fallen world of the judgment to come? Is
it hatred for a Christian to simply relay the Truth to others? The answer is
obvious.
Is it not true that to not warn others would be closer to the
attitude of having no love for others? Would an attitude of not sharing the good news (Gospel) of
Jesus be showing love? Christians warn of spiritual consequences and share the
good news of God’s grace because they do
love. So why are these Christians
accused of being “hate-mongers?” The answer is found in many places in
Scriptures, but the following verse makes it quite clear.
“If ye were of the world, the
world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19)
Satan is the father of those
who are of the world, and there is nothing he loves more than to discredit
Jesus. Since humanity is a fallen people and loves the things of the world,
many, or should I say “most,” will listen to Satan’s prophets.
“But if someone claims to be
a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not
from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is
coming into the world and indeed is already here.” (1 John 4:3 NLT)
The spirit of opposing Christ
and all He stands for has always been here. Today it is red hot. Time is
running out for Satan, and he knows it. He is blinding millions of people to
believe that those who just want them to hear the Truth are actually full of
hate. Most will listen to him, but thankfully some will not. Some will hear the
Truth and act upon it.
It is up to us to relay God’s
message to any who will listen. Do understand that we can’t save anyone. God
does the saving. He just wants us to share the Truth with others. When we love
Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and
mind, and love our neighbor as our self, can we do any less?
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
