“Love each other dearly always. There is scarcely anything else in the world but that: to love one another.”
― Victor Hugo
DANIEL 1-2
27Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: (2:27-28)
1 JOHN 2
9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sisterb is still in the darkness. 10Anyone who loves their brother and sisterc lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them...
...15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Fatherd is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
JOURNAL
So here is the word...John makes a definitive claim...how do we know those who live in the light...it's based on love of our brothers and the deep object of our desires. We are to therefore love our fellow brothers and sisters and not the world. John makes it very clear that this is our test...this is the litmus test for our hearts. This is how we know.
It is interesting and I think intended to be a personal guide and not one that is used to accuse others...for that in essence would not be loving. This is how we should come before God every morning. We should be asking do I have hate in my heart for anyone and if so I should be seeking forgiveness from God and seeking to make amends. I likewise should be asking if I love this world (possessions, power, position, money) more than God and others. If so...I need to seek forgiveness and give them up in position in my heart. To me I can sum it all up in the question "am I giving love or seeking it?" Whenever I find myself seeking love from anything other than God himself...I am at risk of becoming consumed with darkness.
This is a simple but tough call and it really cannot be refuted. This is the essence of believing in Christ. This is the foundation of the faith. To do otherwise is simply a way of using God and scripture for my own selfish purposes.
It is interesting and I think intended to be a personal guide and not one that is used to accuse others...for that in essence would not be loving. This is how we should come before God every morning. We should be asking do I have hate in my heart for anyone and if so I should be seeking forgiveness from God and seeking to make amends. I likewise should be asking if I love this world (possessions, power, position, money) more than God and others. If so...I need to seek forgiveness and give them up in position in my heart. To me I can sum it all up in the question "am I giving love or seeking it?" Whenever I find myself seeking love from anything other than God himself...I am at risk of becoming consumed with darkness.
This is a simple but tough call and it really cannot be refuted. This is the essence of believing in Christ. This is the foundation of the faith. To do otherwise is simply a way of using God and scripture for my own selfish purposes.
29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.e 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’f 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’g There is no commandment greater than these.”
MARK 12:29-31
No comments:
Post a Comment