Dear SCC & Friends,
Let love of the brethren continue. ~Hebrews 13:1
Reflection #312
Why would we discontinue to love when it is clearly an ongoing command of the Lord? What is it that allows our hearts to become apathetic or cold? Jesus gave us a new commandment. …that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ~Jn. 13:34 The commandment to love our neighbor was not new. … you shall love your neighbor as yourself… ~Lev. 19:18 What made the commandment new was to love our neighbor as Jesus loved us. To be honest, asking me to love others the way Christ loves me seems impossible… For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.~Rom. 5:7-8 The Lord loved us when we didn’t love Him, forgave us when we didn’t deserve forgiveness and continues to sustains us to this present moment. How can we love others as He loved us?… only through Him. God’s love received becomes our love to be extended… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.~Philip. 4:13
An overly zealous Christian lady once asked me what I thought God was saying to me in light of “the fact” we were living in the “last days.” I knew she was looking for some profound statement of prophetic depth and revelational truth. I simply said, “To love more.” She was a bit taken back and responded, “Oh, yes of course, love is important, but in light of all that’s going on in the Middle East, what do you think?” I said it again, “To love more”, and then added, “We don’t realize how high the bar is that Jesus set…” You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you…~Matt. 5:43-44 The measure of our love for God is our love for others. ~Anon.~ There is a lot at stake… By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ~Jn. 13:35 Let love of the brethren continue. ~Heb. 13:1We were made for these days… Keep up the good work!
Love never fails,
Kevin