I believe we all look for a “Better Life”
Generally we think of worldly things… maybe what would be happiness for some would to be a successful business man, or lawyer, Doctor, or maybe a great athlete.
When Jody and I were Chaplains with Hospice I never met anyone who was facing death who really cared about those things… at this time of life… the end… the things of true value come into focus… God, faith, and love of family and friends.
I didn’t meet one person who seemed to fear death, their minds were on their loved ones
The foundation of all things is LOVE….
1 John 4:10-12 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. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The Royal Law…. The greatest law of all… is love… James 2:8
What if… just this one day… everyone who greets you, and asks how you are doing, you answered with … I’ve never been better!
Do you know how that would affect you, and those you greet?
What if… just this one day… If you see someone you could help in some way, and you did… do you know what that would do to two hearts?
What if… just this one day… You let one person know how much they are appreciated… where would that take their attitude… and yours?
What if… just this one day… if someone is rude to you, but rather than be defensive you just decided … to forget defense and show love in return… would that change your day, your outlook, and the other persons as well?
What if… just this one day… You decided to forgive everyone for any perceived sin or assault against you… without being asked? Where would that take you this day?
What if… just this one day…
YOU CHOSE LOVE
James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;
This is Agape Love… it means doing for others, to put others needs equal to your own, it is an action love… And this is the love used throughout the bible…
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Mark 12:28-34 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
But after that no one dared question Him.
Love ends arguments
Matthew 22: 36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Love God, Love Each Other, Love your Neighbor, Love your enemy…… the message to Christians is to love… everything hangs on this one thing… Love!
Yes, we have other commands to follow… but they are useless without love as the foundation…
And, they are impossible to fulfill without Love coming first.
Let’s close with these verses
Numbers 6: 22 – 26 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
And where does that peace come from if not from love… and where must the love start… with you… start a wildfire of love today…
