Have you ever told somebody that you truly love them?
If you just turn on the news to any station it will show the worldly perspective on what happens and try to justify the actions. When tragedy hits many people ask "Where is God?” and many may hit rock bottom during the tragedy, but are they truly loving? That is a question we may need to ask along with what does it truly mean to love another? Jesus showed his love for his Father by being obedient along with giving up his life for the will of God. Throughout the Old Testaments and New Testaments we are given many examples of his love and even given instructions on how to love one another. These instructions show many people what true love looks like through the perspective of God and not the worldly view on what love truly is.
Leviticus 19:18 (TNIV) 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Currently we are in a situation in the world where many people are asking “Where is God?” and why if he loves us is he allowing the world to be so full of hatred? The answer is simple however we like to make it more confusing than what it is, for the answer is that He is here and He does love his children, however with the option of free-choice it can turn into a messy situation for the Father is Love and wants his children to love one another and to love him, for it is the parental relationship between a father and child. A father loves their child and in turn, the child should love their parent. That is an image that Christians should plant in their mind that we are children of the Father and he wants his children to choose him and love one another even in the dark world to be the example for others. And he wants us to love him with all of our heart and know that he is near and loves his children.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
In the worldly perspective, we are told to hate the ones who persecute us however as a Christian we are told to love and pray for our enemies. Think of a time when you were bullied in school did you hold a grudge or pray for the children who were picking on you? Now fast forward into modern times with the terrorism issue that has a religious motive and the persecution that modern Christians face in the current society maybe not quite as extensive in some areas as others but it does exist. Do you love the world and that is a question that many people struggle with living in the world but not part of the world? We are given instructions on loving God and loving others both in the Old and New Testaments and they should help guide our lives in showing what true love really is and what it means to love one another in the darkness. In our lives, we may get frustrated but we should still show love.
Nehemiah 9:17 (TNIV) They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Pray for the ones who persecute you, love God and love others. Also know that God will walk by your side if you allow him to and know that he loves and cares for you.
Psalm 46: 10 (KJV) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Matthew 22:37-39 (TNIV) Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
We are called to love our neighbor and pray for our enemies. We may live in a worldly perspective but with Christ, our view should be changed and the bible shows many examples of what it means to love God with all of our heart and love our neighbors. There is so much tragedy in this world and when the storms hit they ask “Where is God?” and they wonder where the love is during the rain. The truth is True Love comes from God and through His word we are taught what it truly means to love another. We may not always get along with people and we may have the people who persecute us and we should be the light into the darkness and pray for the individuals that persecute us for they may be facing a battle of their own, and may need some prayers and encouragement to show them the definition of Love from God's point of view.
1st Peter 1:22 (KJV) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
We need to love God and love one another, for we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and though we may not always agree we are still a family and God is our father and his instructions for the definition of love is played out all throughout the bible and through the tragedies that may happen and the rainstorms that fall down during the times when we may ask “Where is the love?” We ought to be loving one another as God has loved us and we need to be loving him and loving others for we are a family. Love God, love one another and be the example for others by showing them your heart by your love. A-men.
