This is the test of all tests for each of us to evaluate and to be true to ourselves. The first and greatest commandment is LOVE- And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13), the Love chapter!
God is Love!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:7-11).
Jesus said, By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”(John 13:35). How are we going to draw others to Christ if they don’t see God’s children showing love toward each other. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20).
What about your enemies? You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48).
I know the Lord has worked in this area of my life, although I have quite a way to go. Some of that old me (residue) from my past still rises up because of the human side of me. I am stopping at this point to interject that I said “the human side” of me, not my old mature because one can only one nature at a time. From the Christian standpoint, there are only two types or kinds of people, they are either saved or they are lost.
I would come up against anybody, and my mouth was shamefully filthy, but GOD! My Father helped because I wanted a real change; not just half stepping. So, little by little, because I yielded to the Spirit of God, a change (transformation) and a renewed mind were evident. As time went on when I fell into sin, not fell short of sin, each time I allowed my flesh to rise up, the conviction would come quickly, and I repented (1 John 1:9).
I may not like what someone is doing, but I love everybody; it took quite some time to get to this point of loving despite how someone feels about me.
Question- Did you pass the Love test?
Tomorrow, “Helping (serving) Others” Lord willing.
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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