Commanded to Love

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Commanded to Love

We supposedly independent human beings  like to think  we can love  whatever  and whoever we want.     And,  that is exactly  what we determine to do.     In much  of our lives,  it is also  what we must do.

But,  God does have a number  of commands  about our love life.     The first  and most important command  is found  in  Matthew 22:37-39.

‘You shall love  the LORD your God  with all your heart,  and with all your soul,  and with all your mind.’     This is the great  and foremost commandment.     And the second  is like it,  ‘You shall love your neighbor  as yourself.’

We are commanded  to love God  more than anything else  because it is the most right  and morally decent thing  we can do  in our whole life.     Why?

Because  God has loved us  from the beginning  and proven His love  by promising a Savior  and sending the Savior  to die  for our sins.     To not love God Almighty is,  therefore,  the grossest sin  anyone can commit.

And,  we see people  all around us  committing this grossest sin  every day.

When we are given  the free gift  of love  in Christ  by our Creator  and Sustainer,  it is only right  that we acknowledge that gift  and give our love  in return.     If we don’t love God  for all that He has done  for us,  it shows  that we are unworthy  of His love  and grace.

Do we really want  to become unworthy  of our Redeemer’s love?

Have we honestly looked  into all the proofs  of God’s love  for us?     That includes looking  all around us  and seeing the miracles  of creation  by our Lord.     It includes  studying God’s word  to assure ourselves  that God has,  indeed,  kept all  of His promises  of salvation  in Christ.

Loving God  is having a thankful heart  for being freely given  eternal life,  just by believing  and trusting  in God’s love.    When we love someone,  we like  to do things  for them  to show  our love.     We like  to serve them  because we enjoy the love  we have been given.     It’s so good  to know  we are loved.     We need  to show God  our love.

God knows  how the world fools us  into thinking more  about the influences  around us,  than thinking about God,  who can seem  far away.     He knows  that we easily become  more concerned  about making a living,  having a home  and family  of our own,  keeping up appearances,  our daily problems,  etc.

With all the things  we’ve just gotta do  every day,  there doesn’t seem  to be time  for thinking  about God  and loving Him,  too.     There are so many activities  we must attend….     But,  Jesus says  we’ve got  to get a grip  on all those distractions  and realize  what they are doing to us  eternally.     In  Matthew 6:24  Jesus says,

No one  can serve  two masters;  for either  he will hate the one  and love the other,  or he will hold  to one  and despise the other.     You cannot serve God  and mammon.

Jesus showed the people  how all their concerns  about this life  are just “nothings”  that distract us  from what is most important  in our lives  —  the love of God.     Because we can’t change much  of anything  that happens  in this world,  we need  to learn  to love  and trust  our LORD  for all our needs.

Because our Lord Jesus knows  all things,  He can rightly tell us  in  Matthew 6:33-34,

But seek first  His kingdom  and His righteousness;  and all these things  shall be added  to you.     Therefore do not be anxious  for tomorrow;  for tomorrow  will care for itself.     Each day  has enough trouble  of its own.

Are we obeying  God’s command  to love  and trust Him?

As we listen  to our Savior  and obey,  we will learn  to say,  “Hallelujah!     Our LORD loves  and cares for us.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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