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As our Lord Jesus gains popularity in His ministry, there
was also increased hostility against Him from the religious
and civic leaders. They had attempted to trap our Lord by
asking Him a series of three questions. The first was
political nature (Matt 22:17). The second was a doctrinal
question (22:24-28). The third, asked by a lawyer, was a
question about the Scriptures (22:36).
Our Lord Jesus answered the questions by quoting
from two passages in the Old Testament – Deuteronomy 6:4-5
and Leviticus 19:18. Our Lord Jesus did not tell the scribes
something he did not already know. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 was
part of a prayer recited by the Jews twice a day.
+ As Christians, we must adorn the sound doctrine in
our lives (Tit 2:10).
description of love
The world defines love as an emotion. The Bible, on the
other hand, describes love as an action (1 Cor 13). Biblical
love is a determined act of the will that seeks to act in
the best interests of the person whom you love even to the
extent of making a sacrifice. Example: “God so loved the
world, that He gave [an act] His only begotten
Son…” (John 3:16).
While biblical love is not all about feelings, it
does not mean that biblical love must be devoid of feelings.
Our Lord Jesus agonised at Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). The two
disciples who met the risen Saviour said that their hearts
burned within them (Luke 24:32). The angels in heaven
rejoiced over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). The
Psalmist says that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy
(Ps 126:5-6).
+ Because of the greatness of God’s love for us, we
must worship and praise God with a deep and real emotion.
The great commandment is to love God with all our heart,
soul and mind, which also means that to love God is our
great responsibility. And failing to love Him with all our
heart, soul and mind is our great sin and reveals our great
inability. Our great sin and inability, in turn points to
our greatest need, which is forgiveness. Our greatest need
is fulfilled by the greatest demonstration of love, which is
the sacrifice of God’s Son on the cross of Calvary.
+ From birth we are unable and incapable of loving
God. That is why we must be born again (John 3:7). Are you
born again?
degree of love
Our Lord Jesus also established the degree to which we must
love Him. We are to love him with all our heart, with all
our soul, and with all our mind. To love God with all your
heart is to love Him more than all other persons and things.
To love God with all your soul is to be willing to give up
our lives to Him. To love God with all your mind is to
submit our wills to His will.
+ To love God with all our heart, soul and mind is to
love Him with all our faculties or power; to love Him with
all that you are.
Immediately after his three denials, Peter could not declare
that he loved the Lord Jesus sacrificially (agape).
Then, Peter could only claim to have deep affections (phileo)
for the Saviour (John 21:15-17). However, our Lord Jesus did
not turn Peter away. What amazing grace of our loving
Saviour!
+ To love God with all our heart, soul and mind means
to love Him with all your personal capacity. Your love for
God and the expression of that love does not have to match
anyone else.
+ Our Lord Jesus has loved you with all that He is.
Do you love Him with all that you are?
Demonstration of love
It is easier to express our love for God with our lips than
to show it by our lives. How can we show that we love God?
A. Sacrifice for God’s Sake
We know we love God by what we are willing to
sacrifice for Him. Example: God commanded Abraham to
sacrifice his only son whom he loved (Gen 22:2). For Paul,
he was to sacrifice his Jewish pedigree. For the rich young
ruler, he was told to sell all that he had. The man went
away sorrowful because he was very rich.
+ What are you willing to
sacrifice for Christ?
B. Obedience to God’s Commands
We know we love God by our obedience to His Word. “If
ye love me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15; 23; 1 John
2:3-5).
+ What are you doing with the Word of God?
Are you defying it? (Exod 5:2). Or are you delighting in it?
(Ps 40:8).
C. Love Thy Neighbour
We know that we love God by loving our neighbours. To
love our neighbours as we love ourselves means to apply the
love that we have for ourselves to other people (John 13:35;
1 John 3:16-17; 4:20-21).
Who is your neighbour? He is the one whom you know
who is in need. Your neighbour could also be your own family
members who need your forgiveness; your child who needs your
attention.
conclusion
God gives us the Ten Commandments. Our Lord distilled these
into two laws – love God and love men. The Apostle Paul,
through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, brings it down
to one word – love. “He that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8).
Our love for God grows out of His love for us, and
our love for other people grows out of our love for God. And
we cannot love others truly and biblically without first
loving God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with
all our mind. |
