July reflection – Loving God and others
By Aruk Omori
Text: Deuteronomy 6:5
Memory verse: John 13: 34″ A new commandment I give unto you; that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
God is love. As Christians, we are commanded to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might. We are to love unconditionally, fervently, sincerely and genuinely. The first great commandment is to love God. (see Deuteronomy 6:5 & Matthew 22:37-38).
We are expected to love God and cleave unto Him. All God requires of us is for us to love Him.
The second great commandment is for us to love one another. Lev.19:18 charge us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We are to love one another as Christ loves the church and gave himself for us. God gives us love to love others. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love.
When love is absent in the church, she becomes irrelevant and confusing to the world. When love is fully present, the church shines as light and our God is glorified.
To love is the greatest law of God and love is an important virtue in life. That’s why God has called us to real and sincere love.
What are the benefits that loving God and others brings us:
- All men will know that we are His disciples if we love one another (Jn.13:35)
- We will live in peace and the God of love shall be with us (2Cor.13:11)
- We will be rooted in love and filled with all the fullness of God (Eph.3:17-19)
- We shall abide in the light (1Jh.2:10)
- God shall dwell in us (1Jh.4:12)
- God will manifest Himself in us (Jn 14:21)
Beloved, whatever you do, do it in love. Love edifice, it build up and strengthens. Genuine love results in unity of believers and real love will not give up or fail. Love will not hurt or do wrong to others. If we have genuine love, we will be kind and courteous. We shall be known for doing good deeds.
Doing good to our brethren is doing it to God. Let us love God with all our heart, soul and might and learn to love one another as we love ourselves. With love, God shall dwell in us and perfect His love in us in Jesus name.
Amen
