Love From God
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. and the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12:30-31
Love is the foundation of the Christian life, and the more love that is in our hearts the closer we are to the Lord because God is love. We read the Word to learn about God and Christ, but we obey the Word to fully understand God’s truth. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22) What good is the Word if we never do what it says?
Agape love from God means we care about others, we care about people we don’t know, and we love our enemies; but we hate the evil that Satan puts in people. But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)
People expect kindness when they are kind to us, but when people are not kind to us, they don’t expect kindness in return. As a Christian, we show kindness to everyone and we are sad when they are angry and refuse to listen, because Satan has filled that person with lies.
All the commands in the Word become natural when our heart is filled with God’s love. Love changes us and frees us from self, and places our emphasis on God and others. When we follow the Spirit by showing people Christ-like behavior with a compassionate caring heart; and we always need Christ with us.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33) This verse is a promise of God, if we reflect Christ to the world, he promises He will enable us to provide our worldly needs. But top priority for God is to carry us down the narrow road to Heaven.
Today, place emphasis on serving the Lord, being a light for Christ, and know the Lord will guide you to fulfill your worldly needs. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) We depend on God and obey his Word, then he takes care of our worldly and spiritual needs.
Pray: Lord, fill my heart with your love as I reflect Christ to the world. Your love frees me from self, so I desire your kingdom and righteousness over things of the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen