Love One Another

John 15:9,12

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love…This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Is it really possible to love others the way Jesus loved us? Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to give His life on the cross. With His blood that He shed, He made atonement for the sins of all humankind that ever lived and those who would be born after He rose and ascended to the Father. How is it possible for us to love in such a measure? With all of our faults and humanity, Jesus said, and commanded that we are to love one another as He and the Father have loved us. Man, with all of his good intentions, is not able to accomplish this. But, with God, all things are possible (Matt 19:26). To love as God loved is not a feeling or emotion, but a choice. The choice to love comes from the Father above. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Love is a gift and fruit of the Spirit that is given to us by the Holy Spirit that is with us. As believers, we seek the Holy Spirit not only to be with us, but in us to guide us into all truth. The truth is that God is love, and with the help of His Spirit, He can lead us into this love to love one another. An example of this love was recently demonstrated by the wife of Charlie Kirk, who was shot by a man who hated the truth that Charlie was speaking. Charlie’s wife, Erika, in front of hundreds of thousands of people, publicly forgave this man. Such love is not possible with the human nature we are born with. Let us examine our hearts and ask God to search us out. To remove any shadow of hate, and fill us with His divine love. When His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we are then able to fulfill His commandment, and love others as He has loved us. 

Speaking God's Word

 1 Corinth 2:4

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

Sharing Jesus to others elegantly in persuasive speech is not one of my talents. I’m not an oracle who is able to take the English language and adequately explain God’s word. Yes, I have become very knowledgeable in understanding the doctrine and teachings of Jesus, and the other Apostles, whose words are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Give me time to process, I can do a fairly good job in explaining God’s words to others in writing. But, my mind will often go blank when presented with the challenge of presenting these truth orally when opportunity comes to share His word. Times like this, I have to fall on the power of the Holy Spirit to help me to say what needs to be said. I, like Moses, have challenges speaking in public or to others the words that I have seen others do so adequately. It is through the demonstration of the Spirit that I must depend on being  faithful to speak truth, and provide the message of hope and instruction to live blameless in this present world. Plant the seed of God’s word, and let God do His work. His word will not return void.