Welcome to afaithtalk.com. I’m so glad you’ve come.
Love is our focus.
Perhaps the hardest words on love can be found in Matthew by Jesus himself. Let’s look at a few places he talks about it.
First let’s read this:
Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
All the Law…All the Prophets… All hang on Love. Meaning Love is the only requirement.
Here’s where it gets harder.
Matthew 5
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Love God. Love People. It’s a song, the message is so simple. The doing is the hard part.
There’s one definition of Love in the AMP that keeps running through my head… do for the benefit, do the best for others. It’s all about giving, time, talent, treasure, whatever you have for the benefit of someone else, others.
But Jesus says Love is the commandment. Love is how we obey the Law and the words of the Prophets. That’s why people will be drawn to us when we live like that. It’s also why people will question why we live that way.
Yes, you can find the how in 1 Corinthians 13, but this day is just to focus on the fact that Love is the commandment because Love came down in Jesus.
So spend some time today dwelling in Him and on his words.
I’ll be back next year with a new study. Merry Christmas and may your 2023 be the best year ever.
Keep growing your faith.