The Two Most Important Commandments - LOVE (part 4 -Final)

At the beginning of this study, I gave you our foundation Scripture Matthew 22:37-38. In it Jesus was telling a lawyer about two commandments. The first was what we have been discussing.

I would like to end this study with the second commandment that Jesus gave in Matthew 22:39; And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself.

I don't know about you...but...that is a very hard thing to do. It is not impossible though. We have to choose to Love.

Other Christians can be very difficult to love...for a variety of reasons that I am sure you are aware of. Yet in the book of John, Jesus tells us why it is important to love each other. John 13:34-35 says; I give you a new commandment; that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another [If you keep on showing love among yourselves].

Jesus doesn't just mean our brothers and sisters in the Lord...He means our enemies too. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. But wait...He goes even further in Luke 6:27-28; But I say to you who are listening now to me: Make it a practice to love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred. Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's favor upon those who abuse you and misuse you.

WHEW...those are some pretty strong words. This is no easy task. Let's go deeper...

WHAT IS LOVE?

I'm sure you've heard it and/or read it...

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love endures long and is patient and kind; love is never envious nor boils over with jealousy, it is not boastful and does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited; it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly. Love (GOD'S LOVE IN US) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails...

There really isn't anything more I can add. God has explained "what" love is thoroughly. The next question would be...how?

HOW DO WE LOVE?

In part one of this study we learned that the Scriptures tell us that if we love God...we will keep His commandments. Well, this is one of His commandments. Obviously, we don't just snap our fingers and suddenly have the kind of love described in I Corinthians. It comes gradually over time as we study and learn His Word (His ways). The Word says that God is Love in I John 4:16. So, if we pour enough of God into our lives and spirits...we will automatically love more like He loves. It is what naturally happens as we submit our lives to Him and His will. We grow the "fruit" of love.

We cannot beat ourselves up when we fail. The enemy would love that. We must press on. Make it a point to read I Corinthians 13 as often as you can. Get it in you. And PRAY!

Note: All Scripture was taken from the Amplified Translation.