Love God, Love your neighbor and have Joy

"And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:18-21

Paul wrote, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1 New King James Version NKJV

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:4-5 NKJV

My Comments: Paul’s life made a difference as did all the Apostles who were with Him after the Crucifixion. Their lives showed their changes from lives not lived for God to ones lived for the Lord Jesus who they knew was the Son of God, God incarnate who had dwelt among them. We know Him as well when we are truly Born Again and ask Him to dwell within us. We show the change in our lives by what we turn away from and what we then do with our lives.

Bear on another’s burdens, cry with one who suffers, rejoice with one who rejoices, turn the other cheek, pray for one another; in other words we live our lives to bring glory and honor to Abba Father as Christ Jesus did when He dwelt among His Apostles and Disciples 2,000 years ago. How do we bring Him glory and honor? We do it daily by the lives we live for Him. We do it daily by living by His commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind.” And “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These two exemplify the whole of the Ten Commandments God the Father gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

And as John the Beloved said, “Love.” You see if we love God above all else even above ourselves, children, spouses, parents, “things,” positions, pride, self,  then we will love our neighbor and always seek to serve and help others with joy in our hearts because we are serving the Lord God when we serve others. We are and will be happy when our eyes are on God the Father and not on ourselves and our situations. If we love then we are in Him and He is in us and that my beloved is the Joy of the Lord.

It is not enough that when we are Born Again that we turn from all the things we were “into.” If we are truly Born Again there is a real significant difference in our lives and how we live. For some the change is gradually but even then it is a steady change away from the old life. As a flower slowly opens so your life may slowly change yet when the flower is under the sun and watered correctly and nurtured with good soil then it may open even faster. So it is true with us. When we are in the Word of God and going to a good sound Bible believing church and fellowshipping and praying then we grow faster in the grace and humility of the Lord Jesus Christ because we allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. Those who do not change and remain essentially the same as the day before they said some words to accept Jesus as their savior, They may not be Born Again. They are like the seed planted on bad ground. Be sure your ground is healthy and that you water the soil with the Word of God and turn to Him for Your nourishment and you will bring Him glory and honor and one day stand before Him and hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Abba Father, help us to turn totally to You. Help us to turn our lives and everything over to You. Help us to serve others as serving You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may love others as You love them, see others as You see them and serve others as You would have us serve them with Your love. Write Your Commandments on our hearts and keep us as the apple of Your eye.  In Jesus name in union with Your Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

Rebishka