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The Heart, Love one another!

Jesus said to him, “‘you shall love the LORD your God in all your heart, in all your soul, and in all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like it:

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

In these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus said,

“This is My commandment,

that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:12

Well, I must begin by saying that when I started this column at the office; twice my computer just went blank and dead. And I had to reboot. I decided to do it tonight at home and now six times this computer has flashed and gone blank and dead! It is not just the computer but the TV goes off also. I tell you the Devil does not want me to write this column. It is just too dangerous in that this column will expose him. I have e-mailed it back to me at the office again! After much prayer and saying “The Lord rebuke you Satan’ I am now at work on it again! Jesus did it.

I will not be deterred but will press on! Glory

In Matthew Chapter 22 Jesus speaks of us loving one another as we love ourselves. Then in John Chapter 15 Jesus lifts the standard to an even higher level. We are to love one another ‘ as I have loved you’ . Wow, this is awesome.

It moves the focus from how much we love ourselves to how much Jesus loves us!

This is real love.

As I have carried the cross in every nation and lived with people in almost every culture I can see a very clear pattern. Often people love some people dearly but hate others! I have been in the homes of some beautiful loving people that are so kind to the cross and me but they hate to the death the people just across the highway or the people in the next town.

You may think terrorists are just full of hate. But they also have love. They may love their children or wife or country or religion but it is mixed with hate for others. Some of you cannot understand this. Let me then bring it closer to home.

There may be in your own family someone who is loving and kind and caring to many people. However, bring up the name of a certain family member and that same loving person explodes in hate and venom for that person.

Often even at church a preacher is preaching about morality. He explodes in hate and rage and says names of people in politics or entertainment or government. There is no evidence of love, only hate.

Can you love your nation but hate other nations?

Can you love certain races and hate other races?

Can you love some family members and hate other family members?

Can you love some people and hate others?

Can you love some world leaders but hate others?

Can you love kind people but hate those you think have mistreated or offended you?

Can you pick and choose whom you love and whom you hate?

I’m sure many will say that you can. Some truly believe that we can both love and hate at the same time.

Yet should you be a follower of Jesus you have a real dilemma!

Please read slowly and carefully the following words from the Holy Bible.

Jesus said, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?’

But love your enemies,

do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return;

and your reward will be great,

and you will be sons of the Most High.

For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,

that we should love one another.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.

And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

But whoever has this world’s goods,

and sees his brother in need,

and shuts up his heart from him,

how does the love of God abide in him?

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.

He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer,

and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

He who does not love does not know God,

For God is love.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us,

that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

In this is love,

not that we loved God,

but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

(Matthew 5:46; Luke 6:35-36; 1 John 3:11-12; 1 John 3:16-17; 1 John 3:14-15;

1 John 4:8-11 in the Holy Bible)

There are many more scriptures that could be listed but the above is clear. True real love and hate does not dwell together in the same heart. God’s love does not mix with hate.

Oh, but I can hear some of you now because I have heard it from many in person . “Oh, I guess then I don’t hate that person or people I just can’t stand them. They have offended me and done me wrong and I have cut them off. I want nothing to do with them.’ Well that can be your guide but it is not what Jesus and the New Testament Word of God speaks of. I think some people seek every play on words possible to hate someone but avoid using the word. We call someone evil. We say they are a killer. We speak of their failure with deep wrath. We point our how horrible they are. We speak with ‘religious indignation!’

We say we don’t hate we are just ‘fruit inspectors for the Lord!’

Why Jesus even says we lose our reward should we not love, even our enemies! We are to do our enemies good, bless them and love them!

During the last week the top two movies were about revenge and hate. This is a common theme of movies. Someone does someone wrong. Then they hate them and seek revenge. It seems that the fallen human nature wants someone to hate.

Just listen to some of the news programs and talk shows and see the hate. People often say ‘I just want justice’. Be very careful. You may reap what you sow. With God we need mercy as given in the scripture verse near the top of this column.

Oh, may we ask Jesus to search our hearts and fill us with real love for others. Our love is expressed not only in words but also in deeds.

Is there anyone you will not speak to? Someone you would turn your back on. Anyone you would wish evil on. Anyone you do not want to see blessed and happy?

Is there a needy person you do not want to feed or help.

I will stop. But I could go on and on.

“Lord Jesus, cleanse my heart and wash me in Your Holy Blood and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Lord God You Are Love! Fill me with Your Love! Now in Jesus Name I am free and I love everybody and every person I know. Thank you Jesus’.

Now smile and love and be free! Rejoice!

More on the heart in the next column. Please read the two columns on the heart before this one.

God bless you.

I love you all.

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessit

Luke 18:1