I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children
walking in truth, as we have received a
commandment from the Father.
An now I beseech thee, lady, not as
though I wrote a new commandment
unto thee, but that which we had from
the beginning, that we love one another.
And this is love, that we walk after
His commandments. this is the commandment,
that, as ye have heard from the beginning,
ye should walk in it.
2John 1:4-6
Love: What is this thing called love? Can you love an inanimate object, or just "strongly" like it, and is this thing called "like" love? Truth is truth and it is true or the actual state of a matter, to conform with fact or reality. Truth is the actual, verified, indisputable fact, proposition, principle or the like. Truth is accuracy. Truth cannot be divided as it is being accepted in this pluralistic society. Truth is truth and anything else is not truth, it may even be an out-an-out lie. The example as what to love and if it is an inanimate object that cannot love back and has no real value other than what a person gives it, then that so-called love does not conform to reality. We use this word "love," loosely and many are misinformed as to what is true love.
What then, is the true and accurate fact that conforms to true love' object? That fact is God! For God is love and this we have learned by our study of the first book of John: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" 91John 4-7-8). Only God loves in purity and truth for He is Love, it is not simply an attribute for God is Love and the attribute of love extends to His creation. What is this commandment we have learned from the beginning? Jesus gives this: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commanments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). How can you love your neighbor, your brothers and sisters in Christ if you do not love God with your whole being, your heart, your mind, and your soul. Is this love that is without the love of God only a "like?" Oh, you may be philanthropic and often this is only to satisfy yourself. Who is this neighbor you are to love? Our English word does little justice to the meaning of the Greek word used by Matthew. The Greek word used by Matthew is accompanied by the article can be used literally as "one's neighbor," but this word has a wider meaning than our word "neighbor had a very comprehensive scope and this can be seen from the chief characteristics of the privileges and duties of neighborhood. Therefore, John's use of the word "love" conforms with the facts and the reality that we are to love those who belong to the family of God and are living according to God's commandments. What about loving our enemies? It is true that we are told to love our enemies but who are our enemies? Are we to love the enemies of God? Are we to love the friends of this world? Are we to love the one who is opposed to righteousness? Jesus told us: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thu shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48). The love which is being spoken of is not "brotherly love," it is Agape, God principled love. We are to pray that they would listen to the call of the Holy Spirit calling them to repentance and we are to do nothing that would hinder them from repentance. We do not conform to their lifestyle, or their philosophies, or ideologies, or their theologies, we are to be conformed only to God and have His love manifested in our lives. Furthermore, we should bring to the world the Gospel in every way we can, letter, phone calls, texts, lunches, dinners, and even door to door evangelism. Invite someone to your Church, go and pick them up, and treat them with the love God has extended to you, now you are living Authentic Christian Love. We hate sin, why? God hates sin! We love the sinner. God loves the sinner enough to send to our world Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son to pay this debt of sin we cannot pay. It is free, just for the taking, you or anyone else cannot earn it or get some favor of God by living according to His commandments. No, to live by His commandments is to do what you are supposed to be doing, so why do you expect something special from God? He already has done the special. Now it is your turn! Love and this love is of God and is from God, and God is the actual, the reality of our love. Truth, is truth, and the truth is that God is love. We can "strongly like" and we can even say this is love, but it is not, it is like, but the truth is manifested when we have as our object, our foundation for our love, God. This is truth!
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man,
that the righteous sin not, and he doth not
sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned;
also thou hast deliverd thy soul.
Ezekiel 3:21
Love the love of God: you will be blessed
Richard L. Crumb
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