Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 21 &22; John 14
“If ye love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15 (KJV)
It is absolute contradiction for a servant to claim he loves his master but cannot obey his instructions. The commandment of Jesus Christ to his disciples is well spelt out in the scriptures. From Genesis to revelation God’s commandment are variously spelt out, but our Lord and Savior summarized the entire commandments in two sentences, “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”, ”Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself” John 22: 37&39 (KJV). In verse 40 of that same chapter Jesus emphatically said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” Living in Love for God and towards your fellow man is tantamount to a pure and holy life. Love is deep and strong. A reflection of our love for God can be seen and attested to by how we relate with our fellow human. We cannot claim that we love God and hate our fellow man.
When we love God for pecuniary gain or for power and position such love is transient and cannot stand the test of time. Our society and churches are filled with such love. Most people are in the church for miracle or for riches. They are committed in times of difficulty but when their blessings come they find it difficult to be in church. This is what I refer to as cosmetic and domesticated love. Such love is not rooted and cannot produce righteousness among men. True Love for God cannot be halfhearted. It is wholesome and total and generates purity in man. It reflects in your godly attitude to your neighbor. God is Love and whosoever practices love lives in God. Hear the scriptures in 1 John 2:10 (KJV) “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.” Apostle John went further to say, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” 1 John 4:12 (KJV). Living a life of love is living in God for God is love. Obedience to God’s word flows freely from true love for God and man. It is easy to obey God’s instruction when we practice a genuine love for God.
Jesus Christ is the consummation of God’s love shown towards man. To say you love God you must reciprocate God’s love extended to us through redemption. “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 (KJV). It is, therefore, expedient to believe and receive Jesus into your life in order to be a recipient of the Love that is in God.
Prayer: Oh Lord, open my heart and eyes to know and behold the grace extended towards me in redemption.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo