Do You Love?

I really don’t get it. Some folks just can’t add one and one and get two out of it. I’m talking about the simplicity of this Gospel. Jesus put it as simply as it can be put, but I suppose it’s just too easy for those who are into ‘deeper’ truths: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mat. 22:37-39). Oh I know, everybody will say amen to that, and say it loudly. But the beloved apostle added something to that equation that is the real clunker for a lot of people: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (I Jn. 4:20). The point here is this: When we love people, we ACT LIKE we love people. Not because were ‘acting’ as it were, but because love is love and it acts like love. There is a distinct difference between ‘trying’ to act like we love someone, and acting like we love them because we DO love them. We certainly don’t act like we DON’T love someone when we DO love them. Jesus said it like this: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Mat. 7:12). The apostle Paul added just a bit of clarity to that: “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). So many people who profess faith in Jesus Christ just don’t seem to realize that what you give out is what you are going to get back. They should take a real sobering look at this scripture: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). I will also add some more clarity here for the sake of adding one and one and getting two out of it. Regarding the first scripture quote above, if you are NOT demonstrating that you love your brother [or sister, or anyone else for that matter] as yourself, it is certain that you are not loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

If we need to be any clearer on this matter, let me just say that you cannot be loving your brother if you are working some manner of ill toward him. How much simpler can it get than that? Nonetheless many are overlooking this kind of pure simplicity in favor of finding as much fault as they can, real or fabricated, with whoever they choose to find it with. The religious crusaders of Jesus’ day found fault with the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, because in fact she WAS a sinner. But they also found fault with Jesus for healing people on the sabbath, though he was NOT a sinner. I’ve got news for you my friend: If you’re looking for more reason for someone to be evil than you are for finding good with them, you will surely find it; whether it is real or just your imagination. You will also be the guilty party, whether those you condemn are guilty of anything or not. Too many have forgotten the commandment of Jesus that goes like this: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Mat. 7:1,2). Sounds like reaping what you sow to me. James put just a little more umph to that saying, for good measure: “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (Jas. 2:13). Rather than keep the simplicity and pureness of the first and greatest commandment, and the second that is like unto it; a lot of folks prefer to go to all the trouble that it takes to be found in the following category: “The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes” (Prov. 21:10). Unfortunately I see this condition in those claiming to be followers of Christ, on a regular basis; and they all think that they’re going to one day die and “go to heaven.” I’m sorry my friend, but one plus one does not equal sixteen. If we love God, let’s act like it; and if we love our brother, let’s SHOW that we do. “Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid” (I Tim. 5:25). Amen.