Success Scripture February 10, 2009

Love Your Neighbor As A Duty

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Roman 13:9

EXPLORATION

Whenever religion is being discussed or more specifically, Christianity, many people think of keeping the commandments of God. Whatever the commandment of God is, it involves the way we relate to our neighbors in thought, word or action. Commandments are generally intended to regulate and guide inter-personal relation with our neighbor. If there is anything men have been spending a lot of money and time to do, it has always been to try and discover how a person would relate well with his neighbor in order to have peaceful co-existence: could be in marriage, family life, in business, in government, in religious undertakings, in school life and so on and so forth.

INSPIRATION

Paul was writing to believers in Christ who at the time of his writing were supposed to have been born again and living a new life in Christ. It is not unlikely that some members of the church in Rome would have been living a life that was at variance with the tenets of the Christian faith and did not have a good testimony among gentiles in showing forth the love of God both within and outside the church. Some may not have realized the obligation every believer owes his neighbor as those who have been redeemed from sin, wickedness and all kinds of evil works. Therefore, he said to them:

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." - Roman. 13:8 (KJV)

True love is the affection that desires the good and well-being of others socially, spiritually, or otherwise without considering the excellence of the person involved. They could even be an enemy. This kind of love is selfless and sacrificial and it is guided by the principle of good and righteousness. This is the God-kind of love. (Rom.5:8; Deut 7:7 -8; I John 4:10 - 11; I John 3:16.) The word LOVE has become so common and familiar to people that the weight and true meaning seem to have been watered down.

Apart from the need for peaceful co-existence with our neighbor, it is a duty every Christian owes his neighbors and this duty is given by God. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." - I John 4:11 - 13. Jesus said to his disciples "A new commandment give I unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall men know that ye are my disciples if ye love one another." - John 13:34 - 35.

Pure love can only be produced by the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and are born again (I Thess. 4:9; I John 4:7-11; Gal. 5:22). It is the highest test of a person's Christianity and can only be known by the action it gives rise to "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." -Romans 13:10.

A life-quality of love is further explained in: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." (NKJV)

Paul gives another insight into how all the commandments of God could be obeyed at once - that, "THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF" Roman. 13:9 this simply means doing or wishing your neighbor what you wish yourself.

Beloved, to be recognized and be accepted by men and God as true followers of Jesus Christ, we must always pay the debt of love we owe out neighbor. Who is my neighbor? One may ask. He is any person in this world apart from "Yourself".

This week: Live like God wants you to live, show some love to your neighbor, and pray for those that are your enemies. Do this and see how your life will change. There are great blessings awaiting you as you activate this love that is given to you by God. It is the fruit of the spirit.

We are always available to help you and to love you. if you want us to pray with you, contact us at info@blissandfire.com today.

Remember the Bible says: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22.

You are blessed, we love you!

Bliss & Fire Network Team

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