Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God
This is something that I have had a really hard time grasping a hold of lately. Sometimes I feel like me loving God is enough, but that’s so false. Loving God should lead me to love everyone I come in contact with. Not just the people I want to love.
April 9, 2008 at 1:51 am |
here’s what you’re on to:
the greatest commandment is this: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Matthew 22:37, Jesus quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5
and though they didn’t ask, he added to their question, saying, “the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself,” also an old testament command from Leviticus 19:18
the question is, how is the second “like” the first?
it’s like this: loving people is loving god. loving god is made evident through loving people. loving god cannot exist without loving people; that’s called being a pharisee. loving god provokes (like a reflex) loving people.
i have always taught it this way: “the second is like the first because the first is lived out through the second.”
good post, my friend.
rock on,
DEREK