Welcome back to afaithtalk.com. Today we’re talking about Love. Matthew 22 is on the lectionary for October 18th but the chapter is quite full so we’re going to just look at part of it. And it’s a music filled lesson too. Enjoy.
First Let’s Pray:
Lord Jesus, help us understand all you are saying in these verses and how it connects to others and what it means for us in this day and time. Give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that (Ephesians 1:17) we might know you better. These are your words. So help, Lord. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Reaching for You by Chris Tomlin with We The Kingdom
Matthew 22:31-32 NIV
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’[Exodus 3:6]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
He is the God of the living. That means this life is the only chance you have to be His. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. (Hebrews 3:15) Turn to Him, accept Him. If He has you now, there is nothing to fear about death or the rest of life.
Matthew 22:34-40 NIV
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.’[Deuteronomy 6:5] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[Leviticus 19:18] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
These two commandments.
Love God and Love People by Danny Gokey.
ALL the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
By Our Love by for King and Country.
So if we’re known by our love. If we live loving God and loving people how exactly do we do that? Well, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us what it is not. Let’s look.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
If it doesn’t envy, no jealousy exists. It doesn’t boast, not proud. Does not dishonor others. You can find it in other letters, but honoring the other is one characteristic of humility. Every single one of these “not” things can be answered by humility.
I see verse 7 like this: Protect people. Trust God. Hope in God. And you will persevere.
To be humble, do not think more highly of yourself than others.
It’s in Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
And Romans 12:9-13
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
See, it’s all over the place, how to love God and love people.
All you have to do is read it to see it. Grow your faith.
Sing by Chris Tomlin with Russell Dickerson & Florida Georgia Line.
Thank You Lord by Chris Tomlin with Thomas Rhett & Florida Georgia Line
Thank You, Lord.