Love

Have you ever wondered how it is that we are to set an example to the world? We've heard that we are to let the light of Christ shine through us, and we know that we are to keep God's commandments. What aspect is there for us to have that can assist us in both of these things?

In Matthew 22:34-40 we read:

³⁴But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

³⁵Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

³⁸This is the first and great commandment.

³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


Okay, if you think about it you may wonder, how is it that all of the commandments are based around love? Well, let's look at the Ten Commandments and think of them in this regard.

The first four commandments are all dealing with God...

Do not worship any other gods but Him.

Do not make and bow down to idols of any kind.

Do not take the Lord's name in vain.

Honor the Sabbath Day in order to keep it holy.

(The Ten Commandments can be read in Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21.)


So, if you think about it, if you really love God with your whole heart, mind and soul as Jesus speaks of, already these commandments are easier to keep. It's easier to stay true to Him and not go against Him if you love Him, isn't it? But then when we take the fifth commandment which tells us to, honor your father and mother, well if you really love your father and mother, isn't it easy to honor them? If you love your neighbor, you won't be inclined to murder them, will you? If you love your neighbor, you're less likely to want to rob them, aren't you? You're not as likely to give false testimony, and perhaps less likely to want to covet their belongings. If you love your neighbor, you're more likely to do good by them. Think of it that way. If you really love your spouse, your husband or wife, aren't you less likely to commit adultery? Aren't you more likely to want to stay faithful to them?

If you think about it in these ways, you can see easily what Jesus was talking about. Love would be the greatest commandment because, if you have love, then you're already much more inclined to keep all of the rest of the commandments given to us. If you have love... love for God, love for fellow man, love for your parents, love for your spouse... all ten of the ten commandments are much easier to live by, much easier to uphold.

It's just an interesting thing to think about, I suppose, to really think about how we perceive those around us, and the world around us. How much love do we have in ourselves, and how does this effect what we do, how we treat people, and how we do what God would have us do, and keep His commandments.

Have you ever seen someone who's whole presence seems to radiate love and goodness? You didn't even have to talk to them to discover this, but you could see it just by looking at them. You could see it beaming from their faces, and in their eyes. This is what it is to have the love of God to show through you, and to have the love of Christ be seen in you.

If you look at 1 Corinthians, it teaches about different spiritual gifts. There are a variety of gifts of the spirit that we can receive. In all of these gifts that are mentioned, it says that the greatest of these is love. It's a good idea to keep this in mind when you read through these verses. Keep in mind your life, and your attitude. Basically a way to check yourself to see if you have this God-like love showing in your life.

In 1 Corinthians 13, it says:

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.


Then, if you look at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 14 you'll see that we're told that love should be our highest goal. It's important to remember that we can't expect to really have this kind of love, a Godly kind of love, all on our own. How many of us can really, truly love our fellow man? If you say yes, does this include those you've never met? If you say yes, then does that also include your enemies? How many of us can truly feel love for those we don't know, and how many of us can truly feel love for those counted among our enemies? I'd imagine none of us on our own.

There's a reason why it's not our love showing, but the love of Jesus showing through us. There's a reason why this kind of love is considered a spiritual gift. There's a reason why the Bible tells us to seek it out, and pray for it, because this isn't our own love, it's God's love that the world can see through us if we will allow it to be there. We need Him to help us with it. We should examine ourselves on a regular basis, and look and see what kind of life we're living, how we treat people.

Think of a situation where, say you're at a restaurant. Think about how you treat the waiters and waitresses. Think of how you treat everyone. Consider these verses, and consider yourself. Allow them to show you if you need help in this area. It's good if we consider this, and then pray about it. The Bible says, Ask and you shall receive (Matthew 7:7), so why not ask that God will allow you this type of love as a spiritual gift? Why not ask that God's love will shine through you in your everyday life? After all, the Bible encourages us to have love set as our highest goal. It is the greatest of all spiritual gifts.


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