YOU ARE OUR NEIGHBOR AND

WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS...

Jesus said to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). To ignore these two commandments is to offend Christ Himself. By first loving God, He makes it easier to love our neighbor. When we see God as the source of our love (for God is love, 1 John 4:8), then we see Him as the one who gives us love for those whom we do not know.

Once a person learns to love God, as Jesus said in this Bible passage, then we can more clearly see how to love our neighbor. Concerning these two love-commandments, Jesus said, “There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31). What makes these two commandments so great? On the other hand, can you think of any greater commandment? If you say yes, then you are claiming more knowledge and wisdom than Jesus. Jesus was always confronting those who turned the commandments of God upside-down. Instead of loving God, as Jesus said, the religious people of His day claimed that there were greater duties than loving God and our neighbor. By loving God, we have become obedient to His word. In contrast, all of the religious works and duties mustered by man cannot equal submission and obedience to the greatest of God’s gifts (love is the greatest gift—1 Corinthians 13:13).

· Religious works are not greater (Titus 3:5).

· Baptism is not greater (1 Corinthians 1:17).

· Keeping genealogies is not greater (Titus 3:9).

· Angelic messages are not greater (Gal. 1:6-9).

· Knowledge is not greater (1 Cor. 13:2).

· Organizing a group isn’t greater (1 Cor. 13:2).

What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind? It simply means what Jesus said. There is one God, none before Him and none after Him (Isaiah 43:10, 44:8, James 2:19). We must love God truly from our heart; but Jesus pointed out a problem with our hearts. Our hearts are full of evil thoughts (Mark 7:21-23). We are to love this true God from our soul; but Jesus pointed out the problem of our soul. Our souls deceive us (Luke 12:19-21). We are to love God with our mind; but the Bible points out a problem with our mind. Our carnal mind is an enemy to God (Romans 8:7). We are to love God with all our strength; but Jesus pointed out a problem with our flesh. Our flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). God did not abandon us in this despair. He provided the answer to abundant life and love through Jesus Christ.

Our sinful nature is what keeps us from loving God the way Jesus said that we should. That also is why people have trouble loving their neighbor. Jesus does not want us to do it on our own strength. God wants to work His love through us (Philippians 2:13).

To fulfill God’s great desire in our lives, we must first realize is that our sinful nature separates us from God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). The only provision God has given us for sin is the atonement of Jesus on the cross (Romans 5:8, 2 Cor. 5:21). We must receive Jesus into our life to be forgiven of all sins and become righteous through His blood. It is written, “... having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). And, “... the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 5:7). Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

Why put it off any longer? If your desire is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, then you can accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today by putting your faith in Him. The Bible promises “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Pray to the true God in Scripture right now, ask Him to forgive you of your sins and change your life. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and He will keep His promise; you will be saved! Once you have done this, read the New Testament to find out more about Jesus. Pray often and attend a Bible-centered Church.

Jude 3 Missions

P. O. Box 1901 Orange, CA 92856