WE SHOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN WE LOVE THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for The Father is not in them.  For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, comes not from The Father but from the world.”  1 John 2:15-16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to all who believed in Jesus, The Christ.  He begins this second chapter by urging them not to sin.  He tells them that if they know and love The Lord God, then they will keep His commands. (1 John 2:1-6)  He also tells them that anyone who hates his brother or sister still lives in darkness. (1 John 2:9-11)  Then he tells them not to love the world or anything in the world because if they do, then the love of The Father is not in them.  He goes on to warn them not to deny The Son of God, (1 Peter 2:22-23) encouraging them instead to hold on to that which they have already been taught so that they will be ready when The Lord returns. (1 John 2:24-29)

Application:

Nothing in this world should be more important to us than The Lord God.  We should not make gods of anything in the world by giving them the primary place in our affections.  We must put God first. (Exodus 20:3)  There is nothing wrong with having possessions, dear friends, or love ones.  The problem comes when we place too much importance on them and value them above The Lord.  If we love the things of this world that much, then we are serving the prince of this world, Satan. (1 Corinthians 2:6)  If we put God first, then all of the other things will be given to us. (Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31)

SHOW OTHERS LOVE AND RESPECT

Proclamation:

"Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."  1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Peter under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Peter told the believers that they were the chosen people of God, (1 Peter 2:10) and their behavior should reflect that.  They were to live in a Christ-like manner, even though they lived among the pagans. (1 Peter 2:12 and 2:15)  They were to submit to the proper authorities and obey the laws of the land. (1 Peter 2:13-14)  He also told them to show the proper respect to everyone, to love their fellow man, and to obey God.  

Application:
Jesus, The Christ, taught us that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, and Luke 10:27)  Jesus also taught us that we should love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, and Luke 6:35)  Under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God, Peter said that we should love and respect everyone.  We are to respect them but not imitate them.  We are to do our best to imitate Christ.  This is only possible because as believers we have The Holy Spirit of God within us and we exhibit the fruit of The Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)   Unfortunately, most people do not behave like this, so we are to be living examples of Christ-like behavior to a non-believing world for them to see Christ in us. (Matthew 5:16)  We are the only "Bible" that some people will ever "read", and our actions will speak louder than our words, especially if the two of them are not consistent and in agreement.  We are to obey the laws of man, except when the conflict with The Word of God, then we are to obey God. (Acts 5:28-29)

Treat Strangers With Kindness

"Keep on loving each other as brothers.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."  Hebrews 13:1-2 (NIV)

The unknown author of the Bible Book of Hebrews stated that men ought to treat each other with loving kindness.  The author also stated that men ought to also treat strangers with loving kindness.  One never knows who a stranger is, some men have met and entertained angels, and they did not know that they had an encounter with an angel.

Blessings can come to us in many different ways.  It has been said that every one who crosses our path in life has either a blessing or a lesson for us. (Unknown)  Angels can speak to us and deliver a message, (Luke 1:13, Luke 1:30, Luke 2:10, and Acts 12:8), they can lead us and guide us, (Exodus 23:20), or the can be near us for our protection without our being aware of them. (2 Kings 6:17)  It is also possible for angels to appear to us in the form of a human stranger. (Hebrews 13:2)  So, we should be very careful how we treat strangers that we encounter, they may be angels sent from heaven with a message or a blessing for us.  Since we do not know who the angels are, we should treat every one with loving kindness  That is just the Christ-like thing to do. We should love our brothers, our neighbors, our enemies, and even strangers that meet. ( Matthew 22:39, Luke 6:27, John 15:12, and Hebrews 13:2)

We Are Our Brother's Keeper

"Then The LORD said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?'  'I don't know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother's keeper?' "  Genesis 4:9 (NIV)

In this the first Book of Moses, this encounter is recorded between The Lord God and Cain, the eldest son of Adam and Eve.  This conversation occurred after Cain had killed his brother Abel.  The Lord God asked Cain a question regarding Abel's whereabouts, even though He already knew the answer.  Cain responded with a lie, and said that he didn't know.  Then he asked The Lord God a question, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

The Lord God did not answer Cain's question, but clearly the answer to the question was, yes, you are your brother's keeper.  This answer also applies to us today.  The use of the word "brother" here applies to more than just our biological brothers, it includes all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  That we should care for our "brothers" is implied and stated in the teachings of Christ.  We should love one another, as He loved us, (John 13:34); we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves, (Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31); we should love our enemies, (Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27); we should pray for those that use us and who persecute us, (Matthew 5:44); and we should pray for one another (James 5:16)   Clearly, we are, or we should be our brother's keeper.  We should treat them as we would like to be treated. (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31)

How Do We Know That We Are Saved

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.  Anyone who does not love remains in death."  1 John 3:14 (NIV)

The Apostle John, who referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, here in this verse provided the answer to the question, "How do we know that we are saved?"  Under Divine inspiration his answer was, we know that we are saved because we love our brothers.  Those who do not love their fellowman are still lost in sin.

God is love, and he who does not love is not of God. (1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:20)  If we love one another, then we are in God and God is in us. (1 John 4:12 and 1 John 4:16)  Jesus, The Christ, taught us that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:31)  If The Holy Spirit of God is within us, then we will exhibit evidence of the fruit of The Spirit, part of which is love. (Galatians 5:22-23)  When we display the love of God in our behavior, then we know that we are saved.  Death is the separation from God.  Those who live in the darkness of spiritual death, live a life which is dominated by hate, and not by love, because they have not accepted Christ. (John 3:36)  Therefore, they have not been born into the light of life with Christ.  Salvation is only available to those who believe. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)